TOPAZ HORIZON

This is a post script of sorts to the previous post. Just had a meeting with Mr. Wilson Yuloque of Pioneer Films, the distributor of Twilight Saga: New Moon here in the Philippines. I told him that there's a cardboard Edward in Megamall and that girls are lining up to have a photo with him. It's pathetic but look who had a fun time with it! (Oops, bad hair day!)Mr. Yuloque found that hilarious. I guess it's hard to believe that Rob is such hot property these days that he nearly got run over by a taxi as he was fleeing crazed fans recently. Anyway, Mr. Yuloque said he just came back from Cannes and was at a party with none other than R-Pattz himself. He told me that:

• Robert Patterson is very tall (cardboard Edward is not life-size), very funny, very polite, very clean and smells really nice. So to that rumor that the guy doesn't shower and is filthy, well, it's not true!
• In the whole of Asia, Filipinos are most crazy about Twilight. Yup, it's the Philippines, not Japan, that is Twilight's biggest Asian market. The franchise--book and film--is making crazy millions upon millions (of dollars!) from us Filipinos.
• There are only 50 original film posters currently available in the Philippines and OK! magazine now owns one!

Lana, our Managing Editor and the Twilighter in OK!, is absolutely in love with the poster.

Me? I'm in love with my shoes. They're Delicious from Anthem at the Power Plant. They're 5 inches high and just utterly comfortable. I think I'll wear them all week. Oh, end of the week is when my beauty giveaway ends. Make sure you join!

Now, before anything else--I have a blog giveaway going on! While I'd love to be raffling off free family trips to Disneyland, shopping sprees at New York or free vacations, I'm starting with free beauty loot from Maybelline! Scroll down to the next post for details. You have 5 more days!

Now back to regular programming.

Bunny ears are so cute. They twitch about constantly. Even when my rabbits are asleep, their ears are like satellite discs that turn to find the slightest sound. They seem to have a mind of their own really!

Now, Louis Vuitton had come out with their silly Bunny Ears for their Fall/Winter 2009 collection. On the runway, the Bunny Ears looked fab.
On the cover of Vogue Russia and atop the head of my favorite model Natalia Vodianova, the Bunny Ears looked fierce.
On my rabbits Galadriel and Matilda, the Bunny Ears (just stiff paper!) looked adorable.

Now, the Bunny Ears on Madonna...

Hmmm. Let's just say Bunny Ears are for the young and effervescent!

One of my favorite mags is Vanity Fair and they just launched an online poll called, "Who Is The Most Handsome Man In The World?"


But in the poll--as I type--Robert Pattinson is leading with a whopping 102,291 votes while my dear Johnny has 15,572. People, the question is who is most handsome not who has the most unwashed hair.

Johnny is the coolest, sexiest, smartest, handsomest man ever! Well, he's a step below Vince Sales, of course, but no one on earth can topple my man off the top of that list. I mean, really, it's unfair to even put Vince on that list because the hubby is the bestest of the best ever!

But back to the poll. Pleeeease do me a favor and vote for Johnny Depp (not Brad, George, David, Leonardo, Hugh, Clive, et al!). I want Johnny to win! Help!


*photos from Vanity Fair's website

So I know I've disappeared for a bit! After the TV show taping on Monday, I had my radio tour on Wednesday then a complete revamp of OK!'s July cover and cover story on Thursday, and a spa checkout on Friday. Whew!

When I'm feeling awfully tired, I go shopping online. Finding goodies online just really revitalizes me! But I found these lovely bags on eBay and one of them is quite pricey so now, instead of feeling happy, I'm getting all stressed again.

I love Fendi mostly because they feature my initial on almost all their bags. This Fendi pochette has the double F logo in shiny red, which makes it all the more fab. And at just PHP 2,400 (USD 51), it's calling out to me every day.
However, this bag is calling out to me every single minute. I found this vintage Chanel quilted tasseled bag. It's from the mid-'80s and I just love it. Problem is I don't love the PHP 16,500 (USD 350) price. I know that's cheap for a Chanel bag but it costs as much as one of my Ghosts. And, for a journalist like me, that's still an insane price for a bag. I don't mind paying for laptops and furniture, but for a bag...? Sigh, but no.

Oh, it would be so nice if I can have the Chanel bag or both bags! I'll just need to make more money then... Or maybe you can donate to my bag fund? =D

P.S. Also an online shopper? Do check out Pretty Peddler, this new beauty blog which sells the best beauty products for much less!

So did ya get your customized pair of Havaianas flip-flops at the Rockwell Tent? Today was the last day and I hear the entire promo was a hit. The media and special VIPs got to attend the launch party last week and we each got a free pair. Mine is a brown and pink pair (the colors of my wedding!) with a clover leaf, a flower and the Philippine archipelago pins.


There was a fashion show, musical numbers and lots of yummy hors d'oeuvres. And tons of happy flipflopped people! Congratulations to Havaianas, to Terry SA and to Amor Maclang for such a fab event!

I know I said I didn't like Twilight the movie but after seeing this video, I'm willing to watch New Moon. Oh my, Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart are so hot! Did they paint on Kristen's clothes? And Rob's abs--are they for real??? And that kiss! I literally felt my cheeks go warm when I saw these stills!

SPOILER ALERT! If you want the movie to be a surprise, do not watch!


Swoon! Now let me look for my own vampire and beg for a bite...

Quick post! I was tagged by M of Cross My Heart and Kiss My Elbow (interesting name...) way back in November and Bucca of Whatever She Said, Then I'm That in February. So here goes!

This is called the "6 Things That Make Me Happy Tag." According to the rules, the things should be unimportant. Oh my. If they make me happy, then they are very important! Hence, I had trouble doing this tag. But I will try to put the silly I-can-do-without stuff that make me happy here.

Anyway, here are the rules:

• Mention the person who tagged you
• List 6 unimportant things that make you happy
• Tag 6 blogs, state the rules and notify them with a teeny comment on their blog

And without further ado...

1. InStyle, Vanity Fair, Elle, Allure and Glamour! Especially InStyle, which I've been collecting for a number of years now. That should put this magazine in the "important" category but I want to think that it's a want not a need.

2. manicures and foot spas - I don't like massages and body scrubs but I do enjoy a good foot soak and scrub now and then. I indulge only when I have extra cash. Most of the time, I just do it myself in my little bathroom with a scented candle lit and all my lotions and potions surrounding me.

3. the pomodoro soup in Cibo - tangy tomato chunks in a rich tomato sauce. Yum. Whenever I feel exceptionally sad or happy, off to Cibo I go for this soup!

4. my red hair - I love it. I think I'm really a redhead! I think I'll be a redhead for a while. But I know myself. I do get bored with my hair color after a few months so while my passion for this red lasts, I'll keep it. I'm thinking of purple next...

5. my pillbox collection - it's modest but growing slowly and the pillboxes are so tiny and pretty, I can't help but smile whenever I see them!

6. online shopping - I buy a lot of things online because I'm lazy to go to the mall. And with the easy online payment services available today, e-shopping has never been more secure and fun to do!

I tag: Eternal Sunshine, Kaith, Uninterrupted, Belle Lumiere, Nevergirl's, Tales of the Domesticated Husband's Wife and I Am Overjoyed. These women have got to be some of the most inspiring I've ever met so I'm very curious to read the unimportant things that make them happy!

Been really delinquent with doing my tags! Sorry to everybody who've been so sweet enough to think of tagging me. I'm devoting this entire week to answering tags!

This one's from Jennie of Kikay Corner. It's called the "Purse Tag" for the voyeurs of the world! Here are the rules:
1. Post a picture of whatever bag you are carrying as of late. No, you can't go into your closet and pull out your favorite purse! We want to know what you carried today or the last time you left the house. * * * * * * *

Like most women, I have several bags in my closet and I pick whatever matches my outfit for the day. For the days I carry a lot of things (and the day I wrote this post was a day I had to carry a ton), this is the bag I use:

It's free. I won it in a recent Nuffnang contest and you'll find the exciting story here and the post that won the contest here. It's reportedly worth over GBP 300 (PHP 21,000) according to Shoewawa and Handbag.com!

Inside it are... well, it's a big bag so here goes:
1-2. shoe bag - I walk to work so I bring my heels in this pouch.
3. Alexa bag organizer - given to me by dear friend Maisa Deluria. This has soooo many pockets! It very efficiently contains the rest of my mess!
4. Denman hair brush
5. L'Oreal True Match mineral foundation powder - when they say it's a true match, they mean it! I have never used a foundation that's made me look flawless and natural until I met True Match!
6. The Body Shop foundation brush - I am soooo in love with this brush! My one problem with True Match is the awful brush, but with this uber soft and compact brush, that problem is solved.
7. Modelco eyebrow kit - since I decided that I wanted to look like Camilla Belle, this amazing kit has brought me more than a few steps closer to looking like a star!
8. Burt's Bees lip balm - a gift from my sister-in-law Anj Onrubia
9. Shu Uemura lip gloss - I'm not a lipstick person and this pretty shade makes my lips look luscious
10. Rustan's Essences blotting film
11. Maldita shades
12. a bottle of water
13. Kleenex tissues
14. Dolfenal 250 - for my migraines

15. Now, in my big bag is a smaller bag. Because when I attend events or meetings, I do not lug around the entire sack! This is my Liz Claiborne multi-stripe shoulder bag. It's PHP 2,500 (USD 52), I think. Inside this bag are:

16. house keys
17. pink Fossil wallet - a surprise gift from Lorenz Manalang
18. our ridiculous office ID - it's for a creative environment, I know, but try showing that ID at embassies and banks. I always get, "Ma'am, do you have a real ID?"
19. Ventolin inhaler - I have asthma. I can leave anything and everything except this!
20-21. two Sony Ericsson phones - one for personal use, the other's SIM is owned by the company. They're both very battered and old but I can't bear to replace them!
22. a notebook - indispensable part of my life! Given to me by Nichole Reyes, OK!'s former fashion & beauty editor
23. a personalized pen - all my pens are personalized but this particular one was a lovely gift by my old friend Tatin Lopez. It came with a beautiful red Moleskine journal.

So that's a total of 23 items! In the words of my husband, "Why on earth is this bag so heavy? And why--despite how huge and heavy this is--do you never have a nail cutter when I need one?"

I reiterate that I only bring this much when I have a big event and I'd need to change outfits and put on makeup. Most days, I just bring the small bag and its essential items!

I tag: Mariel of NYMinute Now, Ria of Dubai yuki, Ro of Sparkle & Scribble, Laura of Daisy Chain Dreams, and Wendy of Wendy Brandes Jewelry

When I said I looked to the '80s for hair inspiration, well, Beyonce went a few notches higher and created a whole video inspired by the '60s.

Here she says that her uber popular "Put a Ring on It" vid was inspired by choreographer Gwen Fosse (oops, posted a wrong vid! Here's the real one!):


And here's the incomparable Mrs. Fosse and her backup dancers shakin' their booty:


Wowza! Whoever said white folks can't dance clearly do not know the Lady Fosse! Here's Beyonce and her backup dancers paying homage:


Can you believe the lithe muscles on Beyonce and her girls? They must've been taking some HGH to get that strong! And those moves aren't easy, mind you. I can imagine the endless practice sessions and training. Anyway, here's the Philippines' very own Dancing Queen, Lucy Torres-Gomez!


I will give Lucy a big A for effort. I tried dancing it and looked pathetic so I won't even dare say anything against the lovely Lucy... But please feel free to comment!

Hi, my name is Frances and I'm a shopaholic!

Regular readers of this blog know how much I love to shop. Now before you all write me off as someone who gets into debt for the love of shopping, let me say that I'm quite responsible with my purchases. I never spend money I don't have! And what extra money I do have goes to recently bought goodies like these:

I'm also about to get some seriously chunky platforms from Charles & Keith soon because I want to tower over everyone again. I went through a flats phase last year because I thought ballet flats were comfy and cute. Well, I've changed my mind. I want to be powerful and fashionable again.

In defense of those who are retail hobbyists, did you know that, aside from 4-inch heels, shopping makes me feel powerful? While other people feel power when they lead or abuse others, my feelings of power just involve handing over a wad of cash to the cashier girl and then walking around with these wonderful shopping bags filled with the most wonderful things on the planet. Quite harmless, I say!

It was around three years ago, when I started earning real money, that was when I started enjoying shopping. I remember this one time that I passed by a porcelain shop (yes, dishes!) and saw these elegant cream plates edged in 18-carat gold and covered in white lace filigree detailing. I thought, "Those are truly beautiful. I wish I ate off dishes like that..." Then I looked at the price tag. Then I asked the salesperson how many pieces were in the set. He said 24 pieces of the exquisite dinnerware. Then I looked in my wallet. Then the glorious realization: "OMG, I can actually afford the plates. I can eat from those plates every day of my now fantastic life!!!"


Purchasing power. There's nothing like it. And I hope you, my fellow bloggers, agree! If you do, then you must check out OK! magazine's February issue. May I direct your attention to the yellow part of the cover? I'm very very proud of that part because that's our Confessions of a Shopaholic movie special! The entire OK! staff had so much fun putting together that section. Joanna got a great interview from the show's star, Isla Fisher. She also got the movie's stylist (and stylist to Sex and The City) Patricia Field to cough up these fantastic style-on-a-budget tips. I supplemented the story with a sidebar on "Shopaholic Essentials" like comfy heels (we like Cole Haan's Air platform heels--serious style and serious Nike Air technology!). And because we love Shopaholic's Rebecca Bloomwood, Elaine added a fun story on our favorite silly ditzes: Legally Blonde's Elle Woods, for example.

Can you tell we're so excited about the movie??? Anything that involves shopping is good news to me. After all, there's nothing like retail therapy. Really. There have been times I've felt so bad, I almost didn't want to wake up. But a trip to the mall or an hour on eBay after, and I'm ready to face life again... in stylish new duds, of course! I know it sounds absolutely shallow but whoever said money can't buy happiness clearly did not have much of it! Viva la shopping!



Catch Confessions of a Shopaholic in cinemas on February 18, 2009!

Halloo, dear neglected readers!

It's been very cold in this neck of the woods--a season which is rare in the tropical paradise that is the Philippines and even rarer in the noisy, smelly, polluted jungle that is Manila. On one hand, my skin is parched and dry; on the other hand, my scarves, coats, thick stockings and cardigans have been dug out of the closet and seen the light of the watery sun.

December to February, being the cool months, is also the season for weddings and parties. In the past few weeks alone, we've gotten so many party and wedding invitations. Hence, I've been away from y'all. And now I just discovered I've nothing to wear anymore to the next round of parties so my sister Jacqui and I are off to get some brand new threads! Will update with a real nice post soonest!

Take care!

Well, if you didn't know it yet, Time magazine has named U.S. President-elect Barack Obama the Person of the Year. No surprise there. Everyone's so elated that a black man is now in the White House. I don't really get that, why people foucs on that. From where I stand, it's the man's platform that matters, not his skin color. Then again, this is something I don't think I'll ever understand because there's no racism in the Philippines. Just a lot of thieves.

Anyway, I always liked Obama. I don't really know his political whatever since I'm not American, but I like him. Since I first saw his smile in the pages of O magazine a few years ago. There's just a real warmth there. I like people whose smiles make their eyes go crinkly. Still, have you ever noticed how black people have such dazzlingly white smiles? From the looks of the photo here, Obama needs to go have his presidential teeth whitened before he gets sworn in on January 20, 2009. Time to go see a Washington DC dentist, Mr. President!