Lines

Introducing Cassie

I just started watching the British television show, Skins, three years after it was first aired in 2007, and instantly fell in like with Cassie's quirky-cute sweetness and her bedhead and eclectic style, which all seem natural and not at all calculated. Of course Cassie was a fictional character played by the pretty, chin-dimpled Hannah Murray.

Other reasons to watch Skins are About a Boy's Nicholas Hoult who looked grown up in the show at 16 (?) and Slumdog Millionaire's Dev Patel, who was discovered by the movie's director, Danny Boyle, through the same show.

OH.WOW.LOVELY.

The Gustavian

Because we all went out of our way to see each other, it almost felt like there was a special occasion to celebrate. The top pick was The Gustavian only because our choices were limited to those within the confines of Eastwood City.

The Gustavian boasts country cooking from the old world, but I didn't find the food to be any different from all the other multi-continental, fusion, sit-down restaurants that have cropped up everywhere. The defining factor of my The Gustavian experience was the lack of air-conditioning; it was so hot that an unsightly fan had to be set up in plain sight. Old world, indeed.

Some redeeming factors were the clearly marked vegetarian dishes, which weren't few. I also loved the chandelier and the wall details. The staff was accommodating and friendly but professional.

The set meal, which includes a choice of soup or salad, a main course, and dessert for Php 420 plus 10% service charge, was not bad. The soup and salad were both fresh and tasty, and the rice in the main course was delicious. Below, tomato soup, napoleon salad consisting of sun-dried tomatoes and grilled vegetables, and salmon.

My mac and cheese with a lone piece of prawn (note, upon checking the menu above, it did in fact say prawn and not prawns) was oozing with cheese. Perfect. Unfortunately, it also had chicken bits in it. I had to choose one item in the menu not marked with a vegetarian guarantee. Great.

Of course, as cheesy as this sounds, dinner was fantastic because the three of us were there. To make the night more fun and a little less grown up, we went to a karaoke place, them to exercise their decent vocals and me to scream my heart out.

Reaction: Amazed

I know that Sarah Geronimo has been leveling up her game, still, I was blown away by her Mega magazine cover for the May 2010 issue, so much so that I bought a copy. Another reason for my interest in the cover is the toned down styling which is unusual for Mega.

Additionally, May is Mega's beauty awards month, so I'm inspired to do a little reviewing of my own. I recently switched night creams from

L'Occitane Radiance Moisturising Cream to

Chanel Precision Hydramax Active Moisture Gel Cream. I have a bias towards French products, which both of them are, but L'Occitane is a more affordable option. Even so, it doesn't disappoint at all. Both creams are light and perfect for the hot weather. One major difference though is that Chanel's Hydramax penetrates the skin upon application, making it more suitable for my combination skin. (I think I had been informed that the Radiance Moisturising Cream is for those with dry/normal skin, I just really wanted to try it.)

Finally, a flashlight was the only source of lighting in the magazine shot above. Other boredom shots are as follows: a self-portrait in grainy film setting and Heart after she just woke up.

One Day Pass

Before anything else, apologies for the following blurry photo, it's the best approximation that I could get of one of my favorite moments using my shoddy Sony T7 camera. Of course it fails miserably to capture that totally cliched but always romantic feeling that can only be had when in high places at nighttime, but I think it's all for the best since I had been out in the sun all day by then and was already in an utterly unflattering state.

Yes, I hobnobbed with a mass of overaged kids who braved the blazing El Nino heat to experience a few exhilarating minutes on each daunting amusement park ride. Nothing special here really except that for the duration of that ferris wheel ride where the above shot was taken, it was a cool and peaceful night, the total opposite of the terrible weather we have been enduring as of late. And surely, I'm not the only one who still gets that tingly, butterflies-in-stomach kind of excitement that can be felt only when in an amusement park. (Or it may just be related to my no-holds-barred rule on junk food consumption when in such places.) [Correction on my earlier post, apart from a floral skirt, I also have a floral cardigan I had previously forgotten about.]

Colors & Reflections

My shopping history with Pin goes way, way back (maybe 12 years?). She looked pretty in her blooming mini-dress, new fringe and shorter hairstyle.

I, on the other hand, felt that everything I put on that day just wasn't right. So I ended up in my FCUK striped skirt which I haven't worn since... And the last time I was in a colorful outfit was in...

I took some self-portraits while waiting for Pin to pick out something tiny and summery for the beach.

I got the necklace from this yoga shop called..?.. Each necklace has a combination of 4 to 5 charms called Chakra Charms. Mine is entitled Earth, Self-Preservation, Physical for "health, security, and prosperity." But the truth is I only picked this one because it has the cutest charms.

Thanks by the way to ... for turning Monday into a Labor Day holiday. Happy weekend, everyone!