Wednesday, October 06, 2010

Aha! A new shop to shop at!

Got invited to the store opening of Muji at Bonifacio High Street. It opens next week and I'm curious to see what's there. I was told Muji sells everything from clothes and accessories to furniture and food.

Typical Muji store in Japan and Hong Kong.
I wonder if the one here looks like this, too.
Note that the Japanese brand doesn't have branding. The name Muji is short for Mujirushi Ryohin or "no brand, quality products." Ah, so desu ne! Kinda like the Anonymous store we used to have years and years ago (does anyone remember that?). I used to buy a ton of stuff from Anonymous and then have fun personalizing them. I still have Anonymous stuff in my house actually. Then Anonymous closed down and so I am super duper looking forward to shopping at Muji.

What I find most interesting about Muji is its commitment to simplicity and quality. And I read that they only use sustainable raw materials and use minimal packaging so if you have to be a consumer (and aren't we all?), you're assured that your carbon footprint won't be gigantic when you buy from Muji.

For starters, I'll have to buy some gifts. Lots of birthdays coming up. OK!'s associate features editor Elaine says she wants some pens for her 18th birthday (hehe. Happy birthday, E!). Well, I'll get her Muji pens then!
 No need to throw away your pens when you finish the ink.
You can also buy gel pen refills!
I'm a sucker for pens, too, actually. I have drawers full of them. In my bag, I am never without a pen and pencil and notebook. Oh yes, notebooks. Vince and I have love affairs with notebooks (Moleskine especially! Remember my giveaway last year?) but any notebook with nice paper is heaven for me. So you can bet I'm making a bee line for Muji's stationery section next week!  
My fashion designer friend Kate will appreciate coloring pencils.
Who doesn't love notebooks? I'll definitely grab a few!
I'm hoping the prices are not too expensive. Well, the store opens on pay day, October 15, so we're bound to have a bit of cash. So I'll see y'all next week at Muji!

Saturday, October 02, 2010

Start singin'!

Aha! My search for the perfect rain boot just ended today, thanks to shoe designer Loeffler Randall.

Sleek

Understated

Sexy
I walk to work so this is a necessity. Just yesterday, on my first day back to work (huhuhu), my feet and Kenneth Coles got wet. So I need rain boots. This pair is just beautiful. And it's only $195! It's utter perfection!

Mariel, if I buy this and have it sent to your New York apartment, do you think Alvin will find space in his suitcase for this? I'm guessing it's going to come in a big box!

Friday, October 01, 2010

A poem inspired by all the rides I took on the MRT, LRT and the Tube

When Vince and I were at Monument Station, London
HERE, THERE

There, he stood holding the steel post, and the slanted light
Of the dying sun lit up the comic book he held.
Here, he caught me when a sudden curve
In the tracks made me fly straight into his arms.
There, we laughed at the unmoving cars below us—
the rush of speed and our pumping blood thrilling our veins!
Here, our lips first met, strangers charging past us,
In and out the train, going to... who knows where?

Now…
I am running away from the boy
Who changed his mind, who stands
There on the platform, pretending I’m not
Here.

Yuck. It's kinda cheesy pala. Nope, this ain't from personal experience! Just wrote it in a flash. I dedicate it to all the men and women who ride the train and look blankly out the window. I hope the mundane stuff in our everyday life inspires you, too! Happy weekend!