Chocolate Secret

DAY 16

of the 30-Day Blog Challenge, 2011

Three Cs of happiness: chocolate, cake, and cookies.
The TKO giant cream-filled cookie from Bouchon Bakery.

 Here's something I've only told my husband this morning, a secret that I've kept for almost four months now: I haven't had chocolate since April 27 of this year. That's right, not a single piece, sliver, or wedge of heavenly cocoa.

I also haven't had a cookie or any cake topped with frosting since that day, for that matter.

Now, this will come as a surprise to those who know me well, because I've had chocolate almost everyday for as long as I can remember. The only other times I'd consciously skipped it for more than one day were 1) my failed attempts at Atkins and South Beach back in 2004 (at some point, I found the ABS Diet that lets one have dark chocolate and ice cream and I've been on it ever since) and 2) certain Fridays of Lent wherein, being sort of vegetarian, I'd chosen to abstain from chocolate instead of meat. The funny thing about the latter is that on those days, I would wait up until midnight so I could have dessert and by then it would be Saturday. Totally defeats the noble and spiritual purpose, I know.

This is how an Oreo cookie would look like if it had gone to Paris.

Holding a "Dirty" cupcake from
Sweet Revenge.

This chocolate hiatus started as a no-dessert experiment which, obviously poses a serious challenge for someone like me who has a sweet tooth. The compromise was to only have sweet things that grew from the earth, or at least weren't placed in a hearth, cooled, and topped with dollops of creamed butter and sugar. Suffice it to say, I've had countless yogurt parfaits and yogurt everything from the time I decided to give up chocolate. I also have a keener appreciation these days for coffee gelato and green tea ice cream.

Yes, there are many ways around this no-chocolate thing that I'm doing. Why did I even start it, you may ask. For several reasons, the first being, it occurred to me one day that what could be a quaint love affair with sugar and the cacao bean may possibly be a full-blown addiction. I do get a delirious high whenever I ingest anything tinged with chocolate. I was listening to an audiobook by inspirational author, Dr. Wayne Dyer, and what he said about overcoming addiction called out to me. I don't remember what he said verbatim, but it has something to do with one's frame of mind and a paradigm shift.

Second, well, I'm sure many of you can relate to praying for something, fervently asking God's help, and, as a bargaining chip, you offer to hold your end of the deal by doing something challenging, or even noble. And, yes, I'm still keeping parts of that a secret.

Third, it boils down to health and wellness. Just like initially cutting out red meat as a novelty, it eventually became a convenient wellness approach to adopt. Don't get me wrong, it will be extremely difficult to turn down a slice of Ms. Polly's chocolate cake (four of which were among our seven cakes at the wedding!). And, if my husband hands over a slice, for sure I will indulge.

Lanvin for H&M

The big shopping bag is by far my favorite part of the collection. It's cute enough to cut out, frame, and hang on the wall.

Alber Elbaz's new limited collection for H&M  hit stores today amidst wild anticipation from fierce fashionistas all over the metro, and dare I say, the world. The curious thing about this is that I don't consider myself an avid follower of fashion, as I tend to be "French" in my choices—as in keeping key pieces in heavy rotation and purchasing trendy pick-uppers and wardrobe boosters every season or so—and, I'm not exactly a fan of either brand. Lanvin, for obvious practical reasons; H&M, because of how items in the store seem to have dwindled in quality and overall Wow! that was so ubiquitous and unique of the brand back in 2006. [Afterthought: Well, Lanvin is French after all. So maybe eventually, when I can afford couture et. al., I'd have a better appreciation for the brand.]

Promising. (And yes, you do get a hanger when you buy a piece from the limited edition line.)

At a brand identity seminar I'd attended at my old job, words that came up to describe the store were "low quality," "cheap," with the speaker brazenly declaring that if it weren't for China, H&M wouldn't even be possible. In recent years, the store has cultivated such a bad reputation as witnessed by run-of-the-mill frocks so close to being actual designer knockoffs...or at least that's what people in New York have been saying, more or less. I for one, used to really like the store, up until maybe 2007, when I noticed that the items were, indeed, not so great anymore, and had a "cheap" and "plastic" feel to them, especially with the accessories. Gone was that whole Swedish-Euro vibe that first drew me in when I initially got to know the store on my first trip to London and a succeeding trip to Milan (I still have and wear H&M accessories purchased from back then).

You also get a cute canvas garment bag with your purchase of a dress, or in my case, a t-shirt.
(Or, you can politely ask the cashier for one, which I did.)

By the looks of it, Elbaz's new line promises to bring back that sense of quality and quirky-but-accessible fashion it seems to have lost amidst the mass production and plasticky neon accessories. But then, by all means do not take my word for it; I am no official authority in fashhh...ion. Plus, walking to where the Lanvin pieces were, I caught a glimpse of the regular accessories section and things seem to be looking up. I may just go back for that ballet-slipper pink floral statement necklace.

All that said, I hadn't seriously planned on being at the store to witness the hooplah surrounding the Lanvin for H&M collection. Yet, I do have "fierce fashionista" friends—former/current fashion editors, fashion students, etc.—who keep track of these things, and as if by osmosis, I am easily and automatically updated because if it were entirely up to me, I would only concern myself with food and home-related accoutrements, such as Giada de Laurentiis's collection for Target, you know...those kinds of things.

The smaller paperbag for the smaller pieces in the collection.

So, this morning, I discovered how the folks at H&M figured out a way to manage excited crowds by issuing color-coded wristbands that corresponded to specific timeslots. You had to be there early to get a wristband, along with some freebies. Well, I wasn't there that early; my friend/cousin-in-law, Happy David, gave me an extra wristband, and I had about 10 minutes to look at everything by the time it was my turn. I'm not kidding, I'd barely browsed the merchandise—which by noon had dwindled to a skeletal few—when someone announced, "four minutes." I got a cute embellished t-shirt and that was it. I'd originally wanted the yellow dress my other friend Kat Dy blogged about here but upon closer inspection, it didn't feel worth the splurge (plus, I'm still technically jobhunting, so $199 for a dress is a major no-no at this point). The shirt was a reasonable $39.95, considering the whole Lanvin thing, the embellishments, and the handmade feel to it.

I didn't have time to admire this embellished tee at the store, but when I tried it on at home, I found it to be quite fab. It can be dressed up or down; worn both in cold and warm weather. Now, how to wash it...

More French Goodness

Over the summer I had picked up a copy of Women, Work & the Art of Savoir Faire by Mireille Guiliano, author of the best-selling French Women Don't Get Fat books (a cookbook version is now available).

Reading the first few chapters, I'd typed up some quotes on my desktop and I'd like to share them with you. I would also recommend getting the book since it packs in more notable insights from the author not included in this blog post. Cathie Black's Basic Black actually comes to mind, in terms of the kind of book one could go back to from time to time for sensible musings coming from experts and leading women in the field. Black is Hearst Magazine's former president and current chairman; and Guiliano is the former CEO of Cliquot Inc, under the prestigious LVMH umbrella. Guiliano has managed to make that mustard yellow champagne label so ubiquitous and the marker of fancy celebrations that it is now. And, in her business tome, Guiliano takes on a tongue-in-chic approach to women and the workplace, along with lifestyle advice you won't find in business books written by men. That,

p9 - 10
"So much for planning, in business or in life. Lesson learned. Things happen. Opportunities are often unpredictable."

p 23
"Yes, but with talent, hard work, and being in the right place you can help make your own luck. By my late twenties I had something of a vision of myself in some sort of management position that permitted me to eat at all the top restaurants on someone else's dollar."

p26
"Concluding such stages in life presents opportunities and invitations to relaunch or reinvigorate a career or professional life. They are also times when you can make your own luck or at least put yourself in a position to be receptive to "lucky breaks." So again, think opportunity. Whether these are sad or happy times emotionally, remember not to think failure. (Where does that get you, anyway?)"

p30
"...I believe that life is lived in episodes and stages, and it is clear that some passions can fade while new ones emerge over time. Indeed, our first loves and passions can be overrated and it would be unwise to pursue them. Others are pursued earnestly for a time, then discarded. C'est la vie."

p53
"Life's too short to worry about the past. And after a while, believe me, you can't even remember the details of the past that were once so consuming. Move on. We all have made mistakes or think we have; living is about the moment and the future. Look ahead."

Image courtesy of http://prettysavvy.ca.

Oui, Wee!

In America, the articles I've read so far have all referenced 2009 as the year Phoenix became 'famous' in this part of the world. Yet, the French band from Marseilles has been churning out tunes waay before that, as early as 2000. I picked up my first Phoenix album It's Never Been Like That in 2006, when the single, "Long Distance Call," started playing in a radio station I'd listened to in Manila. Prior to that, their song "Too Young" was part of the Lost In Translation movie soundtrack in 2004, although I wasn't familiar with the band at the time. I eventually did find out that vocalist Thomas Mars was the boyfriend of director Sofia Coppola, whose movie mentioned above I particularly enjoyed (enough to have purchased the OST).

2009 was when the band's latest cd, Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix, came out, which contained the now popular "1901" (featured in a Cadillac commercial), along with plenty of upbeat, happy songs that have been featured in a slew of movies and TV shows. That's when the bigger part of the U.S. started seriously noticing the French foursome. The Saturday Night Live and late-night talk show circuit guestings may have also helped.

What a great show!

The setlist, minus the awesome encore.

So, on October 20, my husband and I finally got to see them live at the Madison Square Garden! It was awesome! Plus, a SURPRISE performance by the electronic duo, DAFT PUNK! You can read about it here and here.

I want to be them next Halloween.

Images courtesy of http://pitchfork.com (album cover and Daft Punk) and http://www.brooklynvegan.com (concert and setlist).

About the 30-Day Blog Challenge

I have to admit, I thought I'd breeze through this year's 30-Day Blog Challenge (Big Apple Edition). True, the days whizzed by, however, I found it a bit more challenging this time around writing a blog post everyday on top of having a new full-time job (no more working in pajamas) while doing other writing and editing occupations (that still let me work in my pajamas). I know I've unwittingly managed to keep my work plate full because 1) It quells the paranoia of being—gasp!—jobless, and 2) It helps me deal with the long distance away from my husband. Having a lot of work to do makes me not fixate too much on missing him. And, I do miss him a lot nevertheless, especially whenever my back and feet hurt and when I just can't seem to sleep right. Put him next to me and off I go sleeping like a baby.

So, what now?

While I really, really find the daily blogging schedule ideal, I do want to live a more enriched life offline. I've recently just started doing yoga again, so I would very much like to have some time to let my body recuperate from all the twisting and turning. In Mireille Guiliano’s book, Women, Work & The Art of Savoir Faire, she ponders the “inevitable shift in social grace to the acceptance of present-tense community sharing.” She talks about a young American couple she and her husband sat next to in a small Parisian bistro: "They were whispering to one another and clearly delighted with the food and experience. Just after they finished their meals, on some silent command they both whipped out their smartphones and for a good five minutes sat in the middle of the restaurant with screens twelve inches from their eyes, reading, texting, and emailing away with intense concentration and frozen faces from faraway places." She further writes, "It points to an inability to live in and savor the moment unless it is externally recorded… abstracting and distancing it.”

That said, I still do want to keep blogging on a regular basis somehow, some way. It's true that writing is a muscle—and it's the same thing with chefs, athletes, pole dancers… To paraphrase Chelsea Handler from an episode of her show I'd seen a while back, "If you pole-dance often enough, you get better and better at it.” Same goes with writing.

My latest 'baby'

So my dear friend Frances is expecting, and awaiting the arrival of her little bundle, Jelly Bean. Meanwhile, I am far from bearing offspring and my version of nesting is being in the kitchen and churning out sweet goodies and savory treats. My latest 'baby' is the cake above, the Chocolate Cake with Fleur de Sel Caramel Filling & Dark Chocolate Ganache by David Lawrence only my version has none of the posh french salt—just a few pinches of good old iodized salt—but everything else is to the letter. It took me three-plus hours to make: from the the caramel filling (which is already excellent by itself), chocolate cakes (two layers), frosting (a dark chocolate ganache), and I must say it was well worth it.

Sharing this happy mound of chocolate-caramel goodness to the world! And I'm so not the type to keep recipes secret, click HERE to view the video from GoodBite.com, a site a stumbled upon last year while looking for caramel and custard fillings online. It's about four minutes long, but the actual cake takes much, much longer to make. That's not to say you won't have fun with it :)

Seven Easy Ways to Stay Slim

No pressure: Find an easy, breezy food and fitness combo that works for you.

Ever since that year I’d uncannily gained 15 extra pounds (it took a year to shed them), I thought I’d completely resolved my body issues and have learned to be happy with what I weighed. Because when I did get fat, only then did I realize I was thin before after all.

Except that from time to time, I still get bothered by superficial concerns like how my belly spills over my jeans, or how my already chubby cheeks have become more pronounced in the last few years.

I understand with women, it’s a constant struggle to accept and appreciate—or even love—what we were born with, all the physiological facets and contours that make each form unique.

I’ve picked up some strategies throughout the years to help combat the body blahs, whether it’s that puson [paunch] that makes you look pregnant, or those stubborn five pounds that seem more noticeable during that time of the month. I’ve learned to turn to them whenever I need a nudge or just overall accept the present and, as much as I would like to look (and weigh) like my 22-year-old self, my priority these days should be to be healthy and enjoy life and its multitude of culinary delights. And if you’re lazy like me, scanning—and following—these tips should be a piece of cake.

1. Start Small

I was a former athlete and I now live a sedentary life. And the thought of exercising just makes me want to be even more sedentary. I bet this is a common dilemma. My solution is to start really small: as in something so miniscule and seemingly irrelevant that it doesn’t put pressure on you to charge full steam ahead in terms of going to the gym and getting on the fitness bandwagon.

The other day I decided to get on a treadmill for exactly five minutes. That's right: five minutes of leisurely walking, no more, no less. I was literally still in my sleepwear and just slipped on my rubber shoes.

It doesn't even have to be a treadmill: you could grab a jump rope, do one push-up here, a crunch there. As the days go by and at your own pace, add little increments to your routine of choice. Before you know it, five minutes on the treadmill becomes seven, and then 10; one crunch and push-up becomes a set of 12. And surprise! You're actually…working out!

But if you’re still not ready to get off the couch just yet, skip to the next step…

2. Make Like The French

I had a Parisian colleague who stayed thin throughout the time I’d worked with her. And no, she didn’t obsess about what she ate or how often she exercised. In fact, she signed up for the company gym but only ended up going once a month. She would eat a croissant for breakfast at her desk daily, and almost everyday, she and I went to the same lunch buffet line in the cafeteria. One time, she even invited me to her apartment to dinner where she made pasta with cream and salad, which we enjoyed with glasses of wine and hunks of bread.

I know genetics plays a big part in how our body morphs (or dismorphs), but what I noticed with the French (at least from this one person I’d befriended) is that they eat in moderation and enjoy exquisite things and aren’t likely to binge on them. They have cheese with every meal, but not slabs of it. They have dessert with lunch, but not the whole cake. Realizing—and then copying—this manner of eating, I noticed that I rarely feel deprived (or worse: guilty) for indulging.

So if you’re craving for ice cream and cake, don’t skimp by going low-fat or diet. Get the real thing and don’t torture yourself into thinking that you’re never ever going to have more of it afterwards. Just feel welcome and entitled to the food you love to eat. You’ll be surprised that this tactic actually makes you eat less.

3. Take It From Chin-Chin

I met the actress, Chin-Chin Gutierrez, at a shoot a few years ago. Both vegetarians at the time (I now eat chicken; I think she’s still vegetarian), we got to talking about food and nutrition. She mentioned a particular sequence of eating and a theory that made sense and to this day I still try to follow: She said to start a meal with something raw, like fresh fruit or a crisp salad. Since these are natural products, our bodies recognize them easily and our stomachs produce enzymes that help digest food and whatever comes next in the meal.

That versus the usual way of eating something hot and cooked, and having fruit for dessert. From what I remember, this is how she explained it: “The hot meal has already been processed so it ‘surprises’ your belly. So by the time you introduce fruit for dessert, the enzymes go into overdrive and that’s when you get gas.”

Again, this is just a theory, but I like the idea of prepping your belly to digest food more efficiently (and well, yes, have less gas in the process).

4. A Little Green Tea (Goes A Long Way)

I’ve heard before that Oprah was a staunch believer in the metabolism-boosting benefits of green tea. And I’ve seen people lose weight from taking concentrated green tea supplements. Now, I’m averse to anything in pill form unless it’s Claritin, Tempra, or Vitamin C, so freshly-brewed green tea is fine by me.

I actually started drinking tea not because of Oprah or those people who have lost weight, but rather, I quit going to Starbucks that year I started paying rent. I had to improvise and budget my money strategically, so home- (or office) made green tea it was for me.

Since I also happen to love dessert, I try to make it a point to wash it all down with tea—hot or cold, with little or no sugar especially when I’m already eating something sweet. I go as far as carry my own packets for when I’m being a cheapskate and just order hot water in restaurants.

5. Look Up!

Just like those ballerinas and dancers: It’s all about posture and form. Standing tall gives the illusion of a leaner, longer body. So if you find yourself staring at your belly, that means you’re not holding your head up high and you’re most likely slouching. Remember: It’s also about confidence. And the neatest part about confidence is that you can "fake it ’til you make it."

6. The Abs Diet

Some people have found fitness success in the South Beach Diet, or even Atkins. Personally, these programs have failed for me for the sole reason that they require one to give up sugar (and carbohydrates) for the first two weeks.

Now, I live and breathe sugar. Not a day goes by when I don't have a piece of chocolate or anything sweet. During previous Lenten Seasons, I chose to abstain from dessert or chocolate on Fridays, only to find myself waiting for midnight to have a piece of chocolate. I know it defeats the whole purpose of sacrificing and abstaining from something. But you get the drift.

Anyway, what worked for me that year I gained all that weight (that I still try to follow to this day) was the Abs Diet [Rodale] by US Men's Health editor, David Zinczenko. I went straight for the spin-off book, Eat Right Every Time Guide, because it was so small and undaunting. But boy, was it a treasure trove of easy, practical information that has helped keep the weight off, give or take a few pounds.

What I love about the Abs Diet is that it isn't really a ‘diet,’ but more of a lifestyle program that tells you what you have to eat MORE of, not the other way around, as in the case of other eating plans. The core of the program is the ABS DIET POWER 12, which stands for:

Almonds and other nuts
Beans and legumes
Spinach and other green vegetables

Dairy (fat-free or low-fat milk, yogurt, cheese)
Instant oatmeal (unsweetened, unflavored)
Eggs
Turkey and other lean meats

Peanut butter
Olive oil
Whole grain breads and cereals
Extra-protein (whey) powder
Raspberries and other berries

You only read the book once and you're pretty much set. No need to count calories or remember certain carbohydrates that are allowed or not allowed. Just eat often (Zinczenko recommends six times a day) and sensibly from the list above. Easy, right?

The small book also discusses fastfood options for when you’re on the go, plus easy MICROWAVEABLE breakfasts you can take with you to work or for those hectic days when the last thing you want to think about is your diet. After all, diet culprits are triggered by those hunger pangs when you can't think straight that you just reach for the next sugar bomb or grease grenade to quell the hunger…or mindlessly chow down lunch in front of the computer.

Zinczenko also addresses the issue of belly fat in the book (as the title suggests). “[This] is the most dangerous kind of fat. That’s because belly fat often comprises both subcutaneous fat (fat that’s under your skin) and visceral fat (fat that lies beneath your stomach muscles, snug up against your internal organs). It’s this second type, visceral fat, which can cause some long-term harm,” he explains.

“In one report, researchers concluded that visceral fat is the single-best predictor of diabetes.” Other studies also link that extra fat on your midsection as an indicator for high cholesterol and heart problems down the line. “Shedding fat from your frame is essential to living long and healthy,” says Zinczenko. So beware.

Anyway, if that doesn’t get you picking up the Abs Diet, just know that on it, you get to eat ice cream(!) AND lose weight at the same time! Not kidding.

7. Celebrate The Non-negotiables

Now, back to genetics: there are some things you can’t change unless you’re willing to go through the hassle of plastic surgery. In my case, I’ve always had a belly and paunch, even way back in high school when I only weighed as much Nicole Richie. The puson is just in the family.

It has crossed my mind several times to get liposuction (or mesotherapy injections), even on my cheeks or arms. But then again, I know that after lipo, the fat you do accumulate could show up in really odd places—like the armpits. I don’t think I’m ready to hop on that roller coaster. Plus, over the summer I’ve had some lumps on my breasts surgically removed; it wasn’t the most delightful experience and I promised I’d never ever go through surgery for the sake of vanity: It’s just not worth the pain and stress for me.

Besides, understanding your own unique contours and lovely lady parts makes fashion a more enjoyable undertaking full of promising surprises. Can you imagine what fun it is to find the perfect floral dress that accentuates your curves, or that skirt that emphasizes your behind in the most flattering of ways? If you’re considering cosmetic surgery, I suggest splurging on a new wardrobe instead and a night on the town with your best girlfriends. (And don’t forget the cake!)

Disclaimer: Before trying any new diet, eating plan, or exercise regimen, consult with your physician.

Part of this month's Cosmo Series, 15th of 16 posts also published at Cosmo.ph.

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Most Heartwarming Movie Ever

As I write this, I am sipping cold strawberry milk from a champagne flute...simply because it keeps the liquid cold and it looks nice—the perfect accompaniment for chewy chocolate chip bars.

I just got home from watching Julie & Julia and Oh. My. Gosh. It felt exactly like when I first watched The Devil Wears Prada, also starring Meryl Streep. I kept tearing up at several scenes (no, they're not sad) because they struck way too many chords in my heart. Most reverberating were Julie Powell's (played by Amy Adams) lines, character, and situation. There were several parallels to what I'm going through. Off the top of my head:

1) Julie was 29 going 30. Age isn't really an issue for me, because I hardly feel like my age. I have a childlike disposition, to put it mildly. But like her, I am in a dilemma of What's next? in my life. It's like I'm in limbo yet at the same time, feel like I'm on the brink of something big, and that I just have to piece the puzzle together.

2) Julie finished a novel. But hers had no publisher. I have a publisher, but my manuscript needs a major rewrite/overhaul. It's taken me years to finish, and I'm hoping I don't take as long polishing it. Right now, two writer/editor friends are reading and critiquing it. Meanwhile, I'm learning more and more about plot, conflict, and resolution. Also, Julia Child worked on hers for eight years before finally getting published.

3) Julie lived in Long Island City, Queens. My last apartment was in Queens! I lived on the border of LIC and Sunnyside and like her, took the 7 train everyday.

...And so many more! Her love for food, her doting partner (who loved her and her food). I can go on and on about it. I'm definitely buying the DVD once it comes out. If only to take down notes on the quotes that freakily struck those chords. Maybe down the line, I could also tackle some of Julia Child's recipes from her famous book, "Mastering the Art of French Cooking" (Knopf).

When I first watched Prada, I had just gotten back from a fantabulous series of press junkets that included New York, Amsterdam, and Rome on the itinerary. My career was where I'd imagined it to be, and I was finally ready to move to a foreign place, hoping to take everything to the next level. Well some of you know how that turned out to be. (For a backgrounder, read this magazine clip or this post. And the muffins and brownies that followed here.) I moved to New York about eight months after I'd seen the movie. In fact, I even ended up working for a milder Miranda and Nigel combo. It was as if my life mirrored the movie. And instead of a bitchy British colleague, Emily, I got a friendly French cohort named Caroline. But you know how that movie ends :)


So now I'm feeling slightly disturbed and fidgety. I keep thinking that I should be doing more and getting the ball rolling with the goals I've set for myself. Some are really far out, but like I've mentioned before, I've been taught to break down big goals into smaller, doable pieces. Will it be a ritzy hotel front desk job? Will I be working for a PR person formerly based in New York? Or will my next 30-Day Blog Challenge be to the tune of "My 30 days of frying chicken at KFC?" Only time will tell. And I have this blog to chronicle what happens this point forward.

Now, if there's a celebrity chef I love to watch, it's Ina Garten. Not just because she lovingly churns out delicious concoctions from her homebase in the Hamptons, but also because she entertains with flair and practically does everything from scratch. Yum! This photo was taken at my old office in Manhattan, where she was guest chef for a week in my favorite cafeteria in the whole wide world.

Images courtesy of http://www.chron.com (Meryl Streep as Julia Child) and http://www.thecinemasource.com ( The Devil Wears Prada movie still).

My Sentiments Exactly

Jack Vettriano - In Thoughts of You

A few years ago I heard of this theory that one tends to feel the exact same way one did a year to the date of whatever triggered the emotion. The other night, I found myself feeling strangely melancholic for no apparent reason other than that time of the month. I realized, it had been exactly a year since I'd abruptly lost my first "official" New York job due to unforeseen circumstances. That was also the time when one of the first, genuine friends I've made in the city had to leave for Paris. She was a colleague of mine and she and I shared many lunches together, chatting over way too many things; comparing stories about our cultures. I'd always assumed the French had a more liberal take on relationships. It came as a surprise to find out they were quite Filipino in that sense.

The thing with the French is that they come across as snooty and impersonal when you first meet them. But once they warm up to you, they turn out to be amazing friends. My former colleage, Caroline, also patiently taught me one French phrase a week for six months straight back when I was doing my 2008 New Year's resolution of learning the language via easy sentences. (I'd hoped to learn a total of 52 by year's end.)

Unfortunately, I'll be navigating the streets of Paris with a very cryptic command of the language. Both the lessons and the job ended mid-year as our jobs—hers and mine—were consolidated and I became too expensive to keep around. On the bright side, that kick-started my editorial life in the city; the career I'd moved to the Big Apple for, picking up from where I'd left off in Manila and learning so much more along the way.

These days, the work I do is a very modern twist of working in Manhattan but enjoying being away from the hustle and bustle of the big city. One day I know I'll have to start looking for a new apartment again. But for now I'm enjoying work with my socks on and a slice of cake within reach.

Image courtesy of http://www.jackvettriano.eu

Coco-Cool

I just saw the trailer of the movie, Coco Before Chanel, starring Audrey Tatou, who starred in one of my all-time favorite films, Amélie. Click on the photo or here to view the trailer at Elle.com.

The quote, "A girl should be two things: classy and fabulous," originated from Coco Chanel herself and it's a good thing to keep in mind. While researching this quote, I also came across, "There is no time for cut-and-dried monotony. There is time for work. And time for love. That leaves no other time," which I like.

The movie comes out in New York and Los Angeles in September. I'll make sure to be in either city by then!

Image courtesy of CocoBeforeChanelMovie.com

Reflection has won!

Thank you to everyone who voted for the new template. My personal fave was Blue Glide, but Reflection had tabs and a distinct header, so perhaps that's why it won by one point. I found both templates at Ipietoon.com, whose owner/designer has just been very helpful. I am in talks with him to combine the two so I actually get the best of both templates! So I'll be busy 'renovating' over here and brushing up on my HTML. If you find any bugs or missing links, please be patient with me, and also feel free to leave feedback in the comment boxes. Also, do tell me about your blogs so I can link you up in the sidebar. I just loove makeovers!

On another note, the Waring Pro Juice Extractor is the latest addition to the kitchen. Just this afternoon I drank: fresh carrot-apple juice, orange juice, and apple-watermelon juice. So good! I also got a late start with work because I spent half the day in the kitchen making Baked Butter Chicken Fillets (a recipe from Gourmeted.com), which I blogged about here, and a big batch of lentil soup. I took long processing the mirepoix of carrots, celery, and onion—I do this by chopping up more than what I need and putting the rest in zip-top bags to be stashed in the freezer for future use. It also helps that I do all the chopping (when it's this big a batch) in the food processor. I noticed though that after processing the carrots, it tinted the clear bowl orange.

Aww Revoir

I haven't been blogging because I've been working/jetlagging/lazying. I do have some posts brewing but I am most inclined to keep them on hold until they can be properly (publicly) scrutinized and worth your reading time (thanks!).

Meanwhile, here's my latest beauty article in the Inquirer. I'm posting it here because 1) I always do regardless, and 2) It's gone through discerning editing eyes so I can buy time while I edit other things.

Just some background info, this was inspired by my sadness after buying the April issues of Seventeen and Marie Claire Philippines and realizing they were, indeed, the last ones. Sniff. As many of you know, Seventeen has a very, very special place in my heart. I'd spent the best years of my editor-adult life working there.


BEAUTY IN THE BIG APPLE
Look good even after shedding tears
First Posted 21:42:00 05/21/2009

I am absolutely terrible at goodbyes. At times, I manage a chirpy “Bye! See you soon!” and a nondescript wave, but more often than not, I go full-on drama queen a la Sharon Cuneta in the ’80s (short of crying in the shower and sliding to the ground, sobbing).

I could recall times when I drove in the rain, vision blurred due to tears; or reeled over a breakup, eyes bloodshot. Whatever the reason, it’s safe to say that nobody looks good after a sob session.

And speaking of breakups and goodbyes, it saddens me that the April issues were the last for Seventeen and Marie Claire Philippines. These I consider among the best written and edited reads in the country, staffed by incredibly talented teams I have had the pleasure of working with in the past.

But alas, everyone must move on. So while we reluctantly say our goodbyes and wipe the tears, here are some beauty strategies to keep the drama on the down-low, and somehow look like a ray of sunshine despite having bawled buckets.

1. Shower your woes away. The folks at Johnson’s know a thing or two about not aggravating babies’ tear ducts during a bath. And if you’ve just cried like a child and finally managed to get out of bed, employ the ingenious no-more-tears formula of a baby wash to instantly freshen up.

2. Always carry eye drops in your purse. Not only does a tiny trusty bottle of Visine (or Eye-Mo) “get the red out” in a flash, it helps relieve itchy eyes and cleanse the area, especially if you’re prone to scratching and touching your eyes—which is what you do when you weep. (So pack the Kleenex as well.)

3. Blot foundation on the right places. Perhaps the only great thing about having cried your heart out is that you no longer need blush for a come-hither flush. The downside is, your whole face is this cranberry shade. Tone down the redness by dabbing face base under your eyes, T-zone, and a tiny bit on the cheeks. Be sure to blend well to even-out all traces of blotchiness.

4. Employ eye-opening makeup. It’s hard to tell when the next batch of tears will come up in a volatile situation. The best way to look presentable without risking runny mascara and smudged eyeliner in the event of round two is to pick waterproof formulas—or to skip them altogether. Instead, curl lashes and apply sparkly eye shadow up to the crease. Groom brows with a little gel, and swipe on bright lipstick to offset the somber eye makeup.

5. Streamline your tresses. Depressing times call for drastic hair measures. There are two ways to liven up a sad face via hairdo: One is to head to the salon and ask for a straightforward bob. This entails chopping off all the dangling strands that tend to get in the way and stick to your face when tear-stricken. A less abrupt face-brightener is a ponytail worn high and tight. This gently tugs the hairline, creating a mini-facelift that also forces one to walk headstrong.

Mariel Chua is the former beauty editor of Cosmopolitan, Seventeen, and Ok! Magazine Philippines. Visit her blog at http://NyMinuteNow.com.

French Lessons

My one-phrase-a-week French resolution is still up and running, although in recent weeks I have upped the ante and started learning song verses, instead of my usual "Où sont les toilettes?" and "Where's the supermarket?" So I am onto Anggun's "La Neige au Sahara" (Snow On The Sahara) and hopefully, expertly sing along soon—once I get past the second stanza. ("Perdu dans le désert/Tu es perdu dans le désert oh oh...")

Last week my Parisian colleague, Caroline, invited me over her apartment for dinner. We picked up some penne, fresh peppers, arugula, cream and baguettes from the neighborhood grocer and bakery before heading to the cute abode she shares with Raphael.

Pasta is a mainstay in my everyday fare, but more than anything I was curious to see how the true-blue French made theirs. Do they eat bread with it? (Yes! "Bread replaces the knife" apparently. Yehey!)

I must say it was a pleasure having a very educational dinner. We all compared notes on how Asians/Pinoys and the French sequence their food during a meal. "We eat salad and cheese AFTER the main course," shared Raphael. "Ah, okay, I'll do that now," I say. And after getting bored I go on switch to Pinay mode and start eating my salad, cheese, and pasta, all together now. What can I say? Old (Manila) habits die hard.

I'm off in a few minutes to join friends at a Filipino restaurant on the Lower East Side. I hope they have boneless bangus and fried egg.

Bon appetit!

Casellula Night

I honestly believe that many a friendship are forged over huge glasses of wine, hunks of good cheese, and fat slices of chocolate cake. I met up with a friend last Wednesday at this quaint, wine and cheese place tucked in a street midtown, just a few blocks from work. NH left an incredibly thriving modelling career in Manila to study fashion design at Parsons.

When it comes to Manhattan hotspots, I gravitate towards the quiet, quaint, and fabulous; or the incredibly obscure and anti-social—like the small tavern where a friend bartends on the Lower East Side: a true-blue dive with the requisite dim incandescent bulb over the beat-up pool table, vintage jukebox, and a cash register that paints a picture of 19th century Manhattan in your head.

On the flipside, when a place gets too packed (and trendy) that it requires one to adjust to a few decibels louder when conversing and to battle beefy—and very snooty— bouncers: Count. Me. Out.

Fortunately Casellula rose up to the challenge of being 'quaint and fabulous' without being pretentious, serving up honest-to-goodness topnotch wine, authentic French cheese, and freshly-baked dessert in an ambient neighborhood setting. NH and I conversed like long-lost friends, sharing tidbits and tirades from a life left behind, over gourmet grilled cheese, olives, and sweet pairings. And before we knew it it was already past 1am, and the temperature had dropped to the 30s (on a day I'd chosen to wear an airy spring dress).

I'm not sure if this slight brush with hypothermia is what's causing me to feel under-the-weather at the moment, like the early stages of flu where one's throat is scratchy and knees feel wobbly. I'll try to sleep it off but will close this entry pondering whether in life, if it truly is possible to have your cake (drizzled with fresh cream) and eat it too?

And if so, what exactly are the consequences?

Listening to: "Say Goodnight and Go" by Imogen Heap.