Vania Romoff!

From Vania Romoff's Spring/Summer 2012 collection.

Her super adorable, sophisticated, and girly pieces made me want to Pin and blog!

While checking out this new website called Kristn.com from back home, I read a piece written by one of my good friends, Ana Kalaw, who is a columnist for the site. In "7 Designers That Shone in 2012," she showcases some of young designer Vania Romoff's creations. If I were still the event-going person that I used to be (magazine editor days), I would definitely make a beeline for her atelier. Well, on our next trip to Manila, I plan on dropping by anyway!

Loove... Oh where to wear this lovely dress?

I know it's alread Fall/Winter out here, but it's never too late to find a pretty summer—or all-weather!—
dress and designer!

Images courtesy of Kristn.com and Vania Romoff (opens to her Tumblr page)

On Lazy Days

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'

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.

Pom-pom Pow!

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:

Cybernesting

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.

Fashionscaping/Fashionscoping

Have you visited The Style Glossy yet?

At my part-time online job as managing editor of The Style Glossy microsite for Asia, I work on beauty, fashion, and lifestyle topics. So far, I've written about beauty and fashion philanthrophy ("Chic for a Cause"), the print-mixing trend ("How to Mix Prints"), what to do when you're sunburned ("Cooling Down: After-sun Special"), and more.

I should probably also write about "Shopping for Seamless Shape Wear" or "Finding the Best Body Shapers," as we could all use a little nip-tucking of the non-surgical kind. I rarely wear supertight clothing, but when I do wear a close-fitting outfit, I'd rather not worry about tummy bulges and back fat. Hence, I shall keep this in mind when the next editorial lineup is due.

What I like about the work that I do for the website is that first and foremost, it's off-site: I can work in the library after office hours, at Whole Foods, or right in the comfort of my home office. And, if I'm extra diligent and prudent, I can get the maximum return on my time spent writing. (That is why I mustn't procrastinate.)

That said, part of my job at The Style Glossy is to find and assign one blogger every month. So, if you happen to be based in Manila, Singapore, or Malaysia and have a great blog and write about the topics I've just mentioned, please do reach out and tell me more about yourself (and your blog!).

Image courtesy of The Style Glossy.

Stop, Look, and Take a Picture

DAY 22

of the 30-Day Blog Challenge, 2011

Walk this way.

It's true that in Manhattan, you do have to walk fast—especially during rush hour, oh boy. For those of you in the West Coast or elsewhere that requires you to hop in a car and drive to get to work, the NYC morning commute on foot is the pedestrian equivalent of getting on the L.A. freeway. You'll probably encounter a similar version of road rage, and you wouldn't want to be in the way of a speeding, work-bound New Yorker.

That said, you'll still find pockets of time, moments wherein you could walk at a more leisurely pace. Evenings and Sundays are great for cruising along the city streets. While I have a keen appreciation for getting to point A to point B in the swiftest possible manner en route to the office, I equally welcome the languid opportunities to walk less frantically. Also, I happen to always have a camera in my purse (save for tonight, in which case, my Nokia phone comes in handy), and when people aren't busy trying to clock in at a certain time, the city is wide open for great photo ops.

Here are some pics I took on my way home from the library earlier:

Always photogenic. The Stephen A. Schwarzman Building library on Fifth Avenue.

This somewhat reminds me of 6750 Ayala Avenue in Makati City.

Take as many photos as you want. At night, Manhattan is your studio.

Stars and stripes. And lights.

Orange-Spotting

DAY 19

of the 30-Day Blog Challenge, 2011

Lately I've been seeing plenty of orange. Or, make that noticing a lot of orange. It started when I saw a tangerine-themed page in the June issue of InStyle with Taylor Swift on the cover (rocking—what else?—a citrus shift dress!).

And then one Friday evening while grocery-shopping at Trader Joe's, one of the associates and the person behind me in line started chatting about these clementines. In New York, where people talk to each other randomly, I chimed in and expressed interest in the supposedly sweet little things. The associate, in true TJ fashion, got a bag for me to add to my cart. Nice, right?

Last and definitely not the least, is the August issue of OK! Magazine Philippines, helmed by my good friend Frances of Topaz Horizon, Topaz Mommy, and Beauty for a Living (yes, she has three blogs on top of the EIC job and being a mom!). What's special about this cover? Other than the punchy, citrus hues, it's the first one by former Cosmo art director, Red De Leon, whom I've had the pleasure of working with back when I was beauty editor. He's one of the best ADs around and also happens to be fun to talk to. I'd quoted him in my On My Mind "Comfort Clause" piece a while back.

Hope you're orange-joying your weekend!

D.I.Y. Design

DAY 18

of the 30-Day Blog Challenge, 2011

Cozy, cool.

When I moved to the Bronx, I thought of it as temporary and had planned to move back to Williamsburg, Brooklyn at the soonest possible opportunity. I mean, who wants to live in the Bronx, right? Fast-forward one year and I'm actually liking it. Call it the Big Brother phenomenon, natural assimilation, or whatever, but it's good.

If we were to educate ourselves about this somewhat infamous borough, we would find out that it's rather large—spanning 42 square miles (109 square km)—and about one-fourth of that is open space (source); pockets of affluent space, if I may add. While it's true that the southern part of the Bronx has the lowest income median in all of New York and is "one of the five poorest Congressional Districts in the United States," you'll also find areas wherein you could hop on the train and walk home at 1am and be fine. And, to quote someone I know having said a while back, "People get killed in Forbes Park," i.e., you can still get mugged on Park Avenue or in TriBeCa.

Now, my room did need a bit of work when I first moved in, mostly in the aesthetic department. The nice thing about DIY design is that you can control the amount of money you wish to spend on a home-improvement project. My room makeover didn't cost much: a tub of paint, art supplies, a glue gun, and yellow lighting, all brightened up and beautified the small space without busting my budget.

Just a few supplies from the arts and crafts store can enliven a small space.

If you're looking to do a space makeover of your own, here are some tips:

1) Get good lighting.
You'll find gorgeous lamps at every price point. I'm no pro decorator, but trust me when I say that strategically placed lights add lift and dimension to a room. Plus, yellow lighting is easy on the eyes and provides a soothing, mood-boosting effect especially during gloomy winter months. (You'll still need bright overhead fluorescent lamps though, for, say, when you need to work.)

Love this "floating" effect.

2) Try an art project.
I learned this ingenious mounting trick at my old job, wherein one of the designers showed me how to create frames out of foam core boards and make them look like they're "floating" on the wall. It simply entails cutting four cubes from a thick board, sticking them at the back of the frame, and using velcro to mount them. It's unbelievably easy to do and you won't have to hammer nails on a wall.

For my room design project, I bought two squares of scrapbooking paper, stuck them on foam core boards (trimming each to frame the squares), and mounted them on the wall with velcro using the above "floating" technique from my former coworker.

3) Paint on a wash of color.
I'd originally eyed a pale blue shade from Martha Stewart's collection at The Home Depot and at the last minute, went with a shade called "Healing Waters" from a different brand. I don't remember exactly what it was, but it's one of those odor-free and environmentally friendly(?) ones. It kind of resembles the same hue I had on my walls back at my old apartment in Manila. It works. You can get a bunch of friends together to help you paint (some friends of mine used to do this), or, ask the help of a professional. In my case, it was the nice Super from my building. In the Bronx.

Happy decorating!

As you would a monochromatic outfit, accessorize with colors!
(Right) An aquatic printed scarf inside a plain white frame.

Reading Room

A must-read!

DAY 12

of the 30-Day Blog Challenge, 2011

It may come as a surprise to some of you that I have subscriptions to the following men's titles: Popular Science and Esquire. It all started when my husband was promoted to associate publisher and was responsible for launching Men's Health in the Philippines. First, he flew out to New York for training and brought back Rodale titles, including MH editor David Zinczencko's "Abs Diet" book. Next, he started getting US editions of both Men's Health and Esquire in the mail. At the time, I was working at Cosmo in Manila, and reading women's magazines as a form of relaxation had lost a bit of its luster as it would somehow feel like work. Let's say I was reading a foreign women's mag and am impressed by a story or would get fascinated by some photos, so I'd end up checking the gutter for credits, maybe even start poring over the masthead…not the kind of reading one would enjoy doing in the bathroom.

Men's magazines, on the other hand, provided a more straightforward form of entertainment and relaxation. I couldn't care less who shot what story or who did the grooming or who worked in what department (fine, maybe I still did a quick peek at the masthead)—it was pure reading pleasure.

These days, I no longer work as a full-time magazine staffer, which goes to say that I can go back to reading women's titles without internalizing how its pages were, or a particular story was produced. Next to my Popular Science (if you have kids, I definitely recommend having this mag lying around the house for them to pick up; it's a treasure trove of fascinating information) and Esquire are O, The Oprah Magazine, and random purchases of other fashion and lifestyle titles. What can I say? I'm a magazine girl at heart.

Image courtesy of Popular Science on Facebook.

Cool Change

Haier, Haier... :)

I started my day today with, of all things, laundry. What usually happens is I load clothes in the washer, and I head out the laundromat and walk around my neighborhood. Then, I run the dryer and head home and make breakfast. (Yes, like many NY transplants, I aspire to have my own washer and dryer inside my apartment one day.)

One can find all sorts of things where I live. At least two stores carry clear blue garbage bags (to indulge my home-recycling-sorting OCD), and there's a fish store, a vegetable mini-market, grocery store, shoe repair shop, and many more. Earlier I walked into the furniture store that's closing soon and spotted an airconditioner for sale. Now, summer in New York is very much like our weather in Manila: hot and humid. I survived summer last year without an AC because I was moving apartments, and by the time I'd settled in, it was only a month or two before fall. Besides, I'm pretty good with the heat, given that I grew up in a tropical country. And, given a choice between having hot water for bathing and sleeping in a cold, air-conditioned room, I'd pick the former.

Supercool.

So anyway, I ended up going back to the store later in the afternoon with my airport rolling duffel to buy the unit. I've done this before, a few years ago, back at my old place in Queens—albeit under different circumstances. Back then, I couldn't afford the delivery fee, and that's how I ended up walking about five blocks from the store and up to my room (wheeling the box in a large rolling duffel). Fortunately, I lived in an elevator building, and it was an adventure for me to experience this.

Today, I could've paid for delivery, but didn't want to wait around for the box to arrive. Plus, I was somewhat excited to do the whole thing all over again just for the sake of it, and to see if I could still install an AC unit by myself. And, I'm happy to say that it took me 37 minutes to put it up the window, and not manage to drop it down five flights…which would have been so not cool.

Summer Minute Now

A sunny spring day at Union Square in early May.

Summertime is when I have a more profound appreciation for New York.

In a city whose inhabitants find themselves walking on the street at any given moment; a city whose dwellers randomly stop by at parks or benches in the middle of intersections for a quick meal, to read any of the two free daily newspapers (or something a little bit more involved, such as The New York Times), or both, the warm weather heightens the propensity to scatter about and linger on the streets even more so. And, given that one only needs to slip on a single layer of clothing, getting ready and being out and about is only a matter of a few quick New York minutes.

That goes to say that I truly love this season. So much so it compels me to address the blog backlog and put these warm-weather thoughts in writing. Another reason why summer in the city calls out to me particularly is because this is when the Big Apple feels very much like my hometown of Manila—hot as an oven, yet, exhilarating and teeming with promise…maybe of something fun and awe-inspiring right around the corner (I know this may sound shallow and pretentious, but Serendra comes to mind. If it helps, Cubao as well.)

True, I may need to get an AC, ASAP. But, every bead of sweat further solidifies my conviction to choose to live here. And, when the temperature dips once again to a dreadful low come autumn, and  then wintertime, the promise of yet another beautiful, colorful, balmy summer will keep me sticking to and sticking up for this place I now call home.

Peek-a-Shoe!

Open-toe, bejeweled heels...so spring!

When blogger Christine Dychiao of the popular Manila Fashion Observer asked me to participate in her MFO Shoe Series, I was actually in the middle of spring cleaning—storing winterwear and giving way to a more colorful, vibrant wardrobe that simply signifies the change in temperature (Hello, sunny dresses!). I hadn't gotten around to the shoes, so the blog invite was a nice way to document footwear of this past cold season, and, get a closeup of the roster of heels, sandals, and other shoes, old and new, I had around.

The boots—save for my fave Kamik rainboots—are now on the topmost shelf and in their place
on the "front row" are spring/summer sandals!

Want a sneak-peek into my closet? Click on the photo to read the MFO feature :)

My "shoe closet" is also my "everything-else" closet, as you can tell from the Swiffer mop peeking through!

College Musical

One of the most memorable movie soundtracks around.

While in the kitchen prepping ingredients for banana bread and chocolate chip squares, my Pandora Quickmix suddenly played the song, "Crash" by the Dave Matthew's Band. I stopped in my tracks and took a moment to listen to the song I hadn't heard in YEARS. I found it odd that the anthem of my late teens never found its way to my iTunes playlist. So, suffice it to say, I have been fixating on songs I used to listen to back in the day.

It also occurred to me, how, for a good decade—from the early nineties to the turn of the new millenium—I'd regularly played the guitar as a hobby. As a teen, one summer I taught myself to play, and that school year in high school, I chose guitar as a music elective. I didn't become quite the expert, but I learned the basics in a more academic setting. I played random classical pieces, and my teacher—a lanky, long-haired guitarist who probably had his own band and was working as a music instructor during the day—would sneak in some contemporary hits during practice sessions. Eventually, as college rolled around, I learned how to play songs by Dave Matthews, D'Sound, Everything But The Girl, and all of those artists who were popular back in the day. It felt like a lifetime ago, and I instantly started to wish I had a new guitar to completely reminisce, as well as relearn, the tunes of my yesteryears and actually pick up new pieces (Taylor Swift's "Love Story," perhaps?).

One particular song that got my heart thudding today was "We Meet Again" by Nancy Wilson, which was featured in the Jerry Maguire OST (sample the iTunes track here or on Amazon.com). Now, this one was incredibly memorable and special because at the time, my ex-boyfriend and I were just friends at the climbing gym we both frequented, and I tried to impress him by learning the complicated track, which required precise plucking of certain notes, versus collectively strumming chords. So what I did, since the College of Music was just across the street from MassComm, I approached a random musician and asked if he could translate the song into sheet music for me, into "tabs" as what they're commonly called. 

Looking back, I couldn't believe I did that(!)—both the fact that I commissioned a music student AND went through all that effort to get a boy's attention. How I wish I still knew who the guy was—he did an excellent job that within a week or so, I had pages of music to study. I probably told my ex the story when we did get together about a year after. He and I are actually still friends to this day (his wife did my beautiful invites and they both were guests at my wedding). I do have some thoughts on staying friends vs. not staying friends with people whom one dated and that would merit another post altogether. 

It's just amazing how my life changed throughout the years, and how the music I listened to changed with it in the process (now it's plenty of house, Chicane, Phoenix, Katy-Perry-pop), and, now that I'm married and living here in New York City, how I'm rediscovering good bits and pieces from my past and finding ways to incorporate them in my current life.

Image courtesy of Amazon.com.

Martha My Way

Martha Stewart Weddings, September 2010–February 2011 issue.

Yahoo! I'm one degree less separated from one of my favorite people in the world, with the recent feature of our beautiful/wonderful/fun/exciting wedding in Martha Stewart Weddings Philippines. Special thanks to editor-in-chief and my good friend, Tata Mapa, who had requested for the exclusive 'rights' to be the first to feature our wedding in a publication—print or online. Now, I'm not one to say no to anything Martha, so, here we are! Tata had actually met her in New York City and later on received a handwritten note from the domestic diva and kitchen maven herself. Love the gracious gesture and manners.

So now I can really share our photos with the rest of the world. You'll find some in my blog posts, "I got married!" and "Talking about suppliers," and of course, the YouTube slideshow below that I doubt I'll ever tire of viewing (and listening to) by photographer Pat Dy and team.

(Music by Jon Schmidt, "Love Story Taylor Swift meets Viva La Vida Coldplay Piano Cello" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KfH2BY5pdLw.)

A Beauty Lesson

There's more science in the beauty and cosmetics industry than meets the eye.
At the Pond's Institute in Trumbull, Connecticut back in 2006.

I never thought I would become a beauty editor. Not once did it even occur to me that I would be working as one. True, at 18, I told myself I wanted to be an "editor" by age 24. But, at the time, I actually had no idea how to go about it and what kind, actually. (I did manage become an editor at 24, but that's the subject of another blog post.)

So what happened? I started as an intern at Seventeen Magazine back in 2000 when it launched its first international edition. Shortly before graduating, I was hired as an editorial assistant—not an unusual career trajectory for people who intern at magazines. The "beauty" part came in about two years after being hired for the position. I was getting fidgety, watching my contemporaries rise up to fashion, features, and managing editor positions, while I remained a work-all-sections EA, which quite frankly, was actually fun because I got to do everything. But, I probably had that particular career timeline at the back of my mind—or not; I was simply feeling envious of my colleagues. I brought this up to Maya, my first boss (see previous post) who earnestly told me and I will never forget this:

"Mariel, don't compare yourself to others."

I actually forgot exactly what she said after that, but the gist was that I shouldn't indeed be comparing myself with the other EAs who have already "moved forward" because 1) Seventeen was a different magazine, and 2) The position I wanted for myself—lifestyle and fitness assistant/editor—didn't exist in our magazine's masthead at the time.

But more importantly, Maya wanted me to make a decision. To paraphrase, "I don't know where to place you, what do you want to do? You can choose between beauty or features." At the time, Maddy, the fashion and beauty editor was getting ready leave for New York and the position was going to be shared by a fashion editor and a beauty editor who were yet to be hired.

Lille, the features editor (who remains a very very good friend, like most of the Seventeen girls), nudged, "Why don't you do beauty? You just got a car and you can drive to do pull-outs?" It was a simple as that: I could now physically go to the stores and borrow merchandise to write about.

So, that essentially was how I got my start in beauty. And then I walked the walk, talked the talk, worked the work. As the years went by, I no longer had to pull from stores because products simply arrived at my desk, beautifully packaged and brimming with all the science I've come to love to digest.

Beyond Shoes and Bags

A world beyond shoes and clothes.

At my own internship experience 10 years ago, I looked forward to coming to work everyday. Each opportunity presented a new learning experience, and I was happy to take in as much as I could. The magazine industry in Manila back then was still somewhat in its infancy, and we were all still finding our feet. I reckon it was a great time to have been able to dip my toe in, and then jump (and swim) in the growing magazine pool. Among friends, we still refer to a certain time as the Golden Age of Glossies.

Fast-forward to 2010, it's nice to know that magazines are standing the test of time (in a not-so-glossy economy) and have evolved to breathtaking, awe-inspiring, and excellently edited works compiled by the most talented and hardworking people in the business. And most importantly, they are still very much FUN. True, the demands have grown, the responsibilities are more vast, and the consequences to delinquent behavior are more magnified, but I still see it as one happy and dynamic capsule, exploding with infinite opportunities.

When I see interns Alex, Gaile, and Yen at work, I catch a glimpse of this sense of wonder and eagerness to be part of something bigger than themselves; to explore the world beyond their comfort zones. I notice Alex arrive 30 minutes before everybody else; Gaile, quietly and diligently helping our fashion editor with her pages; and Yen discovering the wonderful—and tedious—world of beauty. So much to take in, so little time.

I ended up staying on board as an intern for four months, eventually becoming an editor for many years. Magazine publishing remains my first love and forever home, wherever I am in the world, and however it is presented (online, over the iPad, in the moon...). And for Alex, Gaile, and Yen, I paraphrase the words of Stanley Tucci's character, Nigel, in The Devil Wears Prada: I only hope for the best—I have to.


Originally published at Cosmo.ph/FlawlessatWork. Image courtesy of Cinecon.com and 20th Century Fox

In the Loop

My new project, a la Running in Heels!

It's nice to kind of be back at my old job where I'm currently running the internship program until classes start in this part of the world. Three lucky girls were chosen from almost a hundred,[correction, more than 100; 151 actually from when I last counted] and in terms of talent, personality, and work ethic, they are quite a cute bunch. Cute is a word I've chosen for now because we all just started and we're still in the getting-to-know-you stage.

I met the girls for the first time on Monday and while I can't really talk about specifics, one girl gets to fly out to New York City at the end of the program. As the director I am more or less responsible for choosing who that would be, but I have the help of other 'heads of state,' so to speak.

Anyway, after working freelance—as in no office building—I find it both refreshing and amusing to be in the presence of cubicles, and of course, old friends and colleagues! Earlier I realized how being at the office felt like one big living room where so many people who helped shaped my work and personal life were simply footsteps away; it's amazing!

A few cubicles down is my dear friend Frances, who, at six months pregnant has a cute bump and a waddle to her walk [Oh dear Neighbor I actually haven't noticed the waddle; I only took your word for it from your blog :)]. The heels are gone but she still looks fab, as how editors-in-chief look and carry themselves. It's so nice to easily get to catch up with her in the pantry, or pop by her desk to chat...or in the case of this afternoon, check out her beauty product stash. I'm one mascara rich today :)

Directly behind me is Preview Magazine's EIC, Pauline Juan, who always looks effortlessly fashionable. Also close by is editorial director, Myrza Sison, former Marie Claire EIC who recently relaunched the new Femalenetwork.com. And the desk next to me belongs to my good friend, former Seventeen associate editor Tata Mapa, who now helms Martha Stewart Weddings. So cool. It's exactly like how my dad described how one should work: that it shouldn't feel like it.

Polka Dot Brownies

[Reposting from "Baked!" at Yummy.ph, January 2010]


These triple chocolate brownies culled and customized from a Nigella Lawson recipe found on YouTube are perfect for a classic Pinoy New Year’s celebration, following the age-old ‘requirement’ of donning polka dots and having round-shaped food at the table to help channel abundance in the coming year. As for me, I forgot to wear polka dots on New Year’s Eve, but fortunately, I was able to make these delightful cocoa squares dotted with creamy buttons of white chocolate way before the clock struck midnight. These brownies leave a particularly sweet type of fireworks in your mouth and are surprisingly, very, very easy to make. Here’s the recipe.

You'll need:

6 ounces bittersweet chocolate (or four squares of Baker’s Semisweet Chocolate)
1 1/2 sticks (or 12 tablespoons) unsalted butter
3 eggs
1/2 tablespoon vanilla
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup sugar
3/4 cup flour
1/4 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1/4 cup white chocolate chips, plus a handful for topping

Makes 16 brownie squares. Prep Time 5 minutes. Baking Time 20 to 25 minutes.

1 Preheat oven at 350°F. Melt bittersweet chocolate squares and butter over low heat, or in a tempered glass bowl set over simmering water.

Good butter and chocolate: building blocks of decadent brownies.

2 Remove from heat and let melted chocolate cool for a few minutes. Add eggs one at a time, stirring completely with every addition. Add the rest of the ingredients and stir with a wooden spoon. Do not overmix.

Add eggs for a silky-smooth, chocolatey batter.

3 Pour brownie batter onto a square pan (the disposable aluminum ones from the supermarket work well) lined with parchment paper for easy removal once done. Sprinkle top with white chocolate chips and bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until an inserted toothpick comes out clean.

Tip: White chocolate chips aren’t always available in the supermarket, so stock up and keep them in the freezer.

Happy New Year, everyone!

Mariel Chua is already planning the next batch of brownies and other baked goodies to give away to family and friends.

Sweet Spots

[Reposting from "Baked!" at Yummy.ph, December 30, 2009]

Buttery sylvannas at Kitchen of Cakes and Coffee

I understand that as long as it involves blueberries, fresh cherries and strawberries, or Valrhona chocolate discs, baked treats can be quite expensive, thus justifying the exorbitant prices some establishments charge for good-quality desserts.

That’s why I find neighborhood hubs and small bakeshops truly delightful, not only for their friendly price points, but also for their cozy atmosphere. Two current favorites are the Kitchen of Cakes and Coffee in Tomas Morato and Brewing Point in Tierra Pura Homes—both in Quezon City.

At KOCC, one can enjoy buttery sylvannas for P35, cheese rolls (with a lot of cheese filling) for P30, ensaymadas for P20, giant soup bread bowls to-go (and fill with your own pumpkin soup) for P20, rhumballs (think amped-up Dunkin Munchkins) for P15 each. Wash it all down with your choice of mild, standard, or strong coffee served with real cream and brown sugar.

KOCC's delightful cakes, at realistic prices

Brewing Point on the other hand dishes up an assortment of sweet, layered cakes—from the fruity and chocolatey—alongside homemade value meals and bento boxes (the servings are huge!). On top of the reliable and speedy Wi-fi connection, I enjoy the village-ambience and most importantly, the taste of their savory dishes.

I should probably include in this list Figaro, Starbucks, Seattle’s Best, and Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, but I find the sweet selections in these commercial establishments hit or miss, with a few staples (like Figaro’s bread pudding) that may be worth ordering something else other than the coffee these places are known for.

Mariel recently wrote about coffeeshop and Wi-fi etiquette over by her blog, NyMinuteNow.com. Check out her story entitled, “I’m with the Bandwidth.”