CandyMag.Com

Dear Candy girls,

I’m the type of person who is quite easy to please. Simple things make me happy. For instance, I woke up this morning feeling happy just because it’s a Friday. And I felt even happier when I went to the kitchen and found that there were waffles for breakfast! (It sure beats my usual banana and oatmeal breakfast routine.)

Here are a few other things that give me a natural happy high:

1. Old Friends, New Friends

Last weekend, I went on an outing at My Father’s House in Laguna with the young pro members of CLC-P (Christian Life Community of the Philippines). Most of them were my orgmates in ACLC (Ateneo Christian Life Community) and they really made me miss my college days. We didn’t really do much except eat, play games, eat, swim, eat, sing, play more games, and oh, did I mention eat? But being with my old friends—and meeting new ones—was enough to energize my spirit.
-

2. Babies

Last Sunday, I became a ninang to my cousin’s super cute baby Sofi. As a member of the stage titas club (Cue: Marla and Cisco, Mimi and Jared, Roch and Bri), I just love love love spending time with my baby nieces and nephews.

Ninang Angel: Sofi, stop eating your dress!
Sofi: I’m gonna do whatever I want!
Ninang Angel: You want a piece of me?!
Sofi: Get me outta here!
-

3. Good Food

I recently discovered a new restaurant in Greenbelt 5 called Lorenzo’s Way. It’s food is a collection of the best dishes from the LGC restaurants (i.e. Abe, Bistro Remedios, Cafe Adriatico, etc.)

Here are some of my favorites:

The Coco Loco Prawns, the Beef Ribs Ninja, and for dessert, the Baklava. YUM!!!
-

4. Meeting Celebs

Especially cute boy celebs! Hehe. But a few weeks ago I was lucky enough to meet one of today’s kindest, most talented, and most real female celebs: Iza Calzado! I interviewed her for Women’s Health magazine (Summit’s newest title!) and it was very inspiring to hear her story and learn from her fitness and exercise regimes.

Shameless plug: Grab a copy of the July ish of Women’s Health to read all about it!
-

So what gives you a natural high?

Angel

Filming for the third season of Gossip Girl has finally begun. HOORAY!

On-set snapshots surfaced a couple of days ago, and I’m so glad to see these couple-y, loved-up Chair photos. I’m digging Ed’s exec get-up with pink suspenders in the first shot, while looking at the second picture makes me giddy (who knew Chuck and Blair would actually hold hands in public?). Thank God we’ve finally got proof that this über-stylish couple lasted through the summer!

In GG-related news, TV stars Hilary Duff (remember her from Lizzie McGuire?) and JoAnna Garcia (of the short-lived but highly-enjoyable Privileged) are appearing in multiple episodes as Nate and Dan’s new love interests. Can you guess which guest will be paired up with your fave Gossip guy? I’m not too keen about Hil joining the show, but if she can keep us entertained the way Michelle Trachtenberg did (who’s said to appear in at least three eps this season), then I’m all for it!

On a totally different note, have you heard that scary-slow version of Beyoncé’s “Single Ladies”? I swear, I’m so not liking that version which we first heard over our photocopy guy’s radio. Sadly, I couldn’t figure out who sang it so I didn’t get to include it in my SPOT.ph article about bad remakes. Read it here and be sure to share your thoughts in the comments section. Do you think I was spot on, or was I too harsh on some of the covers?

XO!
Mimi

With the A(H1N1) virus spread all over the metro, confusing weather we’re having right now, and a death of a pop star (RIP Michael Jackson ):), I still managed to have a great week last week. Work has been pretty hectic these past few days but I didn’t get that in the way of having positive vibes. Let me share you what made my happy week.

1. Forehead band

The first time I saw this forehead band (from The Royalty Shop) from Margaux’s pullouts for a fashion ed shoot, I instantly fell in love with it. It gives me a hippy and “pacute” look. I already thought of an outfit to wear with it! I’m just waiting for an occasion where I can actually wear that outfit without looking too dressed or underdressed. My trip to Hong Kong on August perhaps? d:

Check out other cute headbands from The Royalty Shop here.

2. Lady GaGa
Her album was on repeat on my iTunes months ago and as soon as I heard the news about Lady GaGa coming to Manila this August, I was so ecstatic! I can finally dance Poker Face and Just Dance while seeing her live on stage! I just can’t wait!

3. Gabe Bondoc

When I saw a link of him singing a song he wrote about Twitter, I got hooked! I watched all his videos on YouTube and instantly fell in love with his voice. It’s so relaxing and “steady”. He also wrote a song about having a crush on a YouTube star and about guys who don’t kiss and tell. I can tell, he’s going to be big! I hope he’ll release his album soon.

4. New member of the family
I got a text from my brother this morning saying that Briana is officially going to be an Ate. Wuhoo!!! I’m so excited for the new baby but I don’t think Briana is. My sister-in-law told me that whenever they mention being an “ate” soon, she would frown and get mad. Poor Bri! She’s probably not yet ready for the attention she’s going to get once the baby comes out but for sure she’ll be happy knowing she’ll finally have a playmate at home.

How about you? What’s your happy fix for the past week?

Looking forward to another ‘Happy Week’,
Roch <3

In this month’s issue,, we got Candy Cuties AJ Perez, Lance Christopher, Martin del Rosario, and Jonathan Rice to spill about being single—and how it can nurture you and give you as much warm fuzzy love as a romantic relationship can.

I’ve been single for more than three years, and people always ask me point-blank, “Why don’t you have a boyfriend?” I get this ALL the time: from well-meaning relatives to nosy strangers to friends who are constantly trying to set me up with someone. I’d always just answer with a shrug and a smile because I don’t really want to come up with some elaborate explanation for something that is completely normal. Most of the time, I wish these songs from my three favorite Kates can accompany my top three reasons:

1. I don’t want to date around just for fun or “just to try.” I’m not being picky or too idealistic here. It’s just that I’d rather wait for the right person than go through the whole trial-and-error process.
Everyone’s speeding but I’m still going slow/ And I’m so low/ Everyone glows, I see love affairs everywhere/ But no one will do but you. —”So:Lo,” Kate Havnevik

2. I’m not proud of this, but I find that having a boy usually brings out the brat in me; often, I’d be nice to everyone but him. It’s something I’m trying to fix, but I also know that when the guy I really like comes along, he’ll bring out nothing but the best in me.
I’m gonna let you down/ Gonna toss you around/ Gonna make you want everything you haven’t found/ I’m gonna hold your hand/ Then ask you to stand ten feet away. —”Hologram,” Katie Herzig

3. And my final and most valid reason: Because I’m happy the way things are. I like the fact that my life is full of possibilities, all of which I am free to pursue independently.
I can be alone, yeah/ I can watch the sunset on my own. —”Merry Happy,” Kate Nash

That’s Angel (who’s happy with her boyfriend!), me, AJ, Lance, Roch, Martin, Mimi, Rice, and our summer intern Mari.

What do YOU like about being single?

Big hugs,
Marla

Hi Candy Girls!

I found this website called Awkward Family Photos while reading an old issue of Entertainment Weekly, and I must say, I was laughing my head off when I saw some of the photos. The best (or should I say the worst?) part is that these are all 100% real submissions. Check out a couple of these cute and/or funny shots:

They must be all named Kevin Bacon Jrs.

I’d probably get a headache if I was at the bottom of this pile.

Wow! How limber can one guy be?

A match made in hotdog heaven.

For Sanrio fans like Mia and Steph.

I’m still debating whether or not I should send my old family photos, but I can’t find a really hilarious snapshot yet. What about you? Do you have old awkward family photos you’d rather burn than see on their site?

Still laughing out loud,
Mimi