One LOVE.

While Kaya is enjoying her much awaited semestral break in Mindoro, I was finding ways to occupy my mind with happy thoughts. Over the weekend I again started battling a strong case of homesickness. I was checking out Kaya's photos that JM sent me and I was a total wreck. I went to church in the afternoon and I found myself crying some more. I honestly didn't expect myself to be so homesick. I've this strong distinct feeling of not enjoying myself, wanting to go home and just be with my Kaya. I mean I love this place, I just hate not having the people I love most around. Once again I'd like to applaud my ever loving girlfriends for knowing exactly how to handle my sappy attacks. We went shopping. Thank you universe for giving birth to retail therapy. I'll tell you more about my latest purchases in my upcoming entries. Aside from our personal stuff, we shopped for Christmas gifts we'd like to send back home. As I was hunting for Kaya's gifts, I thought about this book my brother JM asked me to check out for Kaya. It was a brilliant gift idea since she's really into books plus she undeniably adores Bob Marley.

The book is called One Love, written by the oldest child of Bob Marley, Cedella Marley. It is an adaptation of Bob's song of the same name, which happens to be Kaya's favorite. The story is a about a girl who persuaded her community to engage in activities to transform their neighborhood for the better. The book comes with colorful illustrations by Vanessa Brantley-Newton. “One Love is not only one of my favorite of my father’s songs, but it’s one that children love to sing as well,” Cedella said in one interview. “I loved the idea of giving them a new way to experience the song, and also spread the message of ‘One Love’ to a new generation.” Chronicle, One Love's publisher has already started working with Cedella on another Bob Marley hit, “Three Little Birds” - one of my favorites. “I’m really looking forward to seeing children reading and singing the line, ‘Every little thing’s gonna be alright.’”

I called Magrudy's and I was delighted to know the book is available so I reserved one for Kaya. So for all you drafting the Christmas lineup, I strongly recommend this on your list.  You can click on the Amazon website to shop online.

The book cover

Road to happiness

Cedella Marley, copyright © Peter Dean Rickards

Aside from writing books, Cedella is also a fashion designer and I'm a huge fan.  I just love her creations.  She is in fact teaming up with Puma to design the Jamaican track and field team’s kit for the London 2012 Olympic Games.  Check out her collection and shop here now. 


Here's the book trailer:

Cedella Marley talks about "One Love"

Photos taken from: marleycoffee.com

“When my father sang ‘One Love,’ he felt it all the way - heart and soul, mind and body. He thought a world united by love was possible, and it is. All we’ve got to do, he said, is ‘Give a little, take a little.’"- Cedella Marley

H&M x "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo"

I was browsing online for goodies to complete my birthday and Christmas wish list.  I do this every year, creating a list and discreetly yet purposely flaunting it to my friends hoping they'd get me anything on the list (what a lame move, lol).  Anyway, I came across H&M's upcoming collection and I was so electrified.  My heart raced with excitement, I couldn't believe my luck as H&M will do their first collaboration with a film.  The Swedish store’s partnering with the American version of The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, the David Fincher film based on Steig Larsson’s novel. The film follows a journalist who is aided in his search for a woman who has been missing or dead for forty years by a young female hacker.  The trilogy has been made into a Swedish film already with limited US releases.  

H&M teamed up with the film's costume designer, Trish Summerville to create the line based on what the character Lisbeth Salander (Rooney Mara) wore in the movie.  In the film, her clothes were described by Summerville to be quite extreme - really worn down and dirty.  The H&M team would make the look more flattering and feminine as to live up with the label's signature touch.  The 30 piece line would include tribal-style earrings, leather jackets, hoodies, lace-up boots, jeans, trousers and shirts.  Since the collection will manifest a dark urban feel making them use industrial shades of black, grey, worn white and dark red.  

The best thing about it is that this line hits stores Dec. 14,  just one week before the film opens in the U.S and just 2 days before my birthday, isn't that great (oa ko lang, hahahaha - please excuse the excitement)!?  Who wouldn't get intensified by these hotties?

The Collection

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

Poster

Fierce

Dirty

Hot

Dark

Troubled

W Magazine Cover

Rooney Mara - starred in films like "A nightmare on Elm St." and "The Social Network".  She will play Lisbeth Salander in "The girl with the dragon tattoo" hitting theaters December 21.  Her face is so sweet and enchanting.  

Check out the trailer.

H&M Dragon Tattoo Collection by Trish Summerville, inspired by Lisbeth Salander

"I've never done this before. Hold still, or it'll get messy. (tattooing Bjurman)"

-Lisbeth Salander, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

I touch myself.

I was nursing a major hangover when I went to the mall across our building in an an oversized shirt and boxer shorts.  I intended on buying ice cream to cure my big head and icky feeling.  I just hate hangovers. Ugh.  Thank goodness for Cold Stone's Cheesecake Fantasy (cheesecake ice cream, graham cracker pie crust, blueberries, strawberries) and Chocolate Devotion (chocolate ice cream, chocolate chips, brownie, fudge) for the quick comfort.  


We were roaming around when we tripped into the Swatch store. I remembered my friend Mimay talking about the new collection when she came over my place last Sunday.  I can recall our excitement that evening.  Anyway, we finally met last night and the watches were so lovely!


Swatch Touch 2011

Collection:	Fall-Winter Collection 2011
Colors:	Blue, Black, White, Pink, Violet, Camouflage
Type of Case and :	Plastic
Type of Strap:	Rubber
Features:	Water-resistant (30 meter/100 feet) Date Digital Alarm Stop Touch bi-timer Touch screen

The five digital functions are controlled via the touch screen: Time (2 zones, t1 & t2), date, chrono, timer and alarm. By tapping on the screen to scroll sideways and you can navigate quickly and easily without push buttons with the functions and enable the integrated background lighting to read on the screen at any time.

This pink little baby is mine! Go get yours too. For more details, check the Swatch website.

Photos taken from: swatch.com and pinkloop.de

Between friendships and tattoos.

Mission ABORTED. That summed up my supposed T-day last month.  Everything was ready - my design, my artist, my schedule, ME.  Everyone was okay with it, except for one person.  I called him before the session and with his calm tone, he told me not to do it.  It was the sweetest voice, how could I resist that?  I figured he was going to react like that so telling him wasn't part of my plan.  At the last minute, I just couldn't bare it, I have to tell him.  And so I did.  There was a list of rebuttals at hand but using those was not necessary at that point.  I can't disappoint my dad, never again. The story ended with "the Dyun Depasupil" calling me a loser LOL!  

Everything was planned ahead, thanks to my friends Tine de Leon and Thei Frades Aboy who helped me find an artist and booked me a schedule.  Effort kung effort mga ate, maraming salamat talaga!  Our day started early.  We didn't know where Dyun's shop was located so we have to travel with ample time to spare.  And then the expected happened, we didn't know which way to go.  It was such a comfort that we passed by a super yummy bulalohan, we were given time to cool our heads off.  Bulalo Fiesta is the BOMB! All three of us were too full to argue, and so we located Dyun's shop without blood shed.   

Bong's Ink

Naliligaw.

No spitting on the floor.

Famished.

Kubo

Bulalo.

Heaven.

The ARTIST - Dyun Depasupil

Shop Locations: #25 Naguilian St., New Haven Village, Fairview, Quezon City

55 Tinta, Teacher's Village, Quezon City

Check out his site and Facebook Page.

Dyun is a funny, modest guy who took pride and great joy in his work.  I really admire people who stick to doing things that make them happy.  In the recent Dutdutan Festival 2011, Dyun bagged these recognition: (1st Place) Best in Rib cage, (1st place) Best in Leg, (2nd place) Best in Tribal - beat that!  From what I felt during our conversations, he's the kind of person who does not need fame and the appreciation of others to give him satisfaction in what he had achieved. Dyun, da best ka! Don't worry I'll take your advice, I'll bring him with me next time. Thanks for your encouraging words. Naks.

Wall of fame.

...and more.

Posters.

Very clean.

Woot! Woot!

Gets?

Colors.

=)

=)

Super nice!

Mag.

Pasa!

Kuha mo?

Ouch!

Best in Leg

Best in Tribal

Best in Rib Cage

=)

Pricey set

Getting started

=)

The INK
My best bud, Bong Malong is our featured fresh meat.  There are a lot of things we share with each other - interests, music, fashion (oh, yes fashion!), girls and boys (yes, we check-out hotties), movies, almost everything.  There's something most of you don't know about us.  Bong is my ex boyfriend. Yes we're part of that ex turned best friend population. Our romantic relationship ended because some things did not work out.   However we both love and understand each other unconditionally, it's how we have always been.  He's always that one person I can go to for anything.  With him I always feel like whatever goes on in my life (relationships, plans, miseries, achievements), I always have this friend who has my back.  He is actually the reason why I'm writing here now.  I had this "business idea" playing on my head for months and Bong was the only person who pushed me to start.  He is very reliable, responsible, caring, witty, artistic, very funny - in short PERFECT, definitely the hottest guy in the market (yung pinangako mong bag ha, JOSE MARI! ahahahaha!).  


This whole Tatt thing was my idea and he was slightly hesitant at first.  He wanted me to think it over.  After a series of discussions, he gave in.  The great thing was he wanted to get one too.  They say a tattoo is a mark of the soul.  Bong genuinely demonstrated that.  His design was very meaningful.  Bong's dad, Director Flor Malong passed away last year.  It was such a tough time for the family. I wish I could be there for him,  I wish there was something I could do at that moment to make him feel better.  At the time of Tito Flor's untimely passing Bong was left with a greater responsibility.  He was compelled to step up to try to fill his dad's role.  I felt a great deal of pressure because a lot of adjustments has to be made on his part.  Honestly, even though how sudden those changes were, I believe he'll survive.  I know he's still struggling, but I also know that he gained one thing and that is the determination to live a life that will find him worthy to be called his father's son. 


His design is a quote from his dad. It was printed in an old typewriter where Direk Flor writes his scripts.  

As handwritten by Direk Flor Malong. You'll find this in a white board inside the FVM office.

Photo by: Bong Malong

FVM - and the legacy continues.

Visit their Facebook Page

Photo by: Bong Malong

Stencil

Ayos ba?

Hmmm.. 

Pep talk

Me: Sure ka na ba? (discouraging him because I was so jealous)

=)

Game na?

Rak on!

Starting.

Quiet moment

Picture picture!

More chika.

JM chumika.

=)

Feelingero si JM jan.

The LOSER smile.

Almost done.

Appreciating.

Covering.

Salamat sa stickers Dyun!

Contract signing. ahahaha. Waiver.

THE Cool men!

The poser.

The LOSER!

I'm still boiling over the thought that I didn't get what I want.  I'm pushing thirty but I still feel like a frustrated youth.  But I know there are far more important things I should contemplate on.  I'm not giving up though.  I know I'll get it one day. I can't wait. =)

"The only difference between a tattooed person and a person who isn't tattooed is that a tattooed person doesn't care if you're tattooed or not."  

                                                                                                                         - Unknown