CandyMag.Com

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

Dear Thads,

Today should have been your 33rd birthday. Instead, we remember the first anniversary of your death. But I don’t want to dwell on what could have been. Instead, I want to take this time to let you know that you are remembered and that your family and friends miss you so much!

Personally, I miss…

Your smile.

I always thought you were a kind and caring person. I’ll never forget how you helped me up that time I fell and sprained my ankle while we were training for AMCI’s Basic Mountaineering Course. You were just a stranger to me then but I’m glad we ended up being friends.

Climbing mountains with you.

Being batchmates, we climbed a lot of mountains together such as Pinatubo (remember this photo?), Gulugud-Baboy, Ampacao, and no less than Mt. Apo! Your presence was always comforting because no matter what happens, I knew you’d be there for any of us in a second.

Here we are with Neri and Maida at the peak of Mt. Kinabalu in Malaysia. It was one of my best climbs ever!

Your creativity.

I still have this orange shirt you designed for our Mt. Apo induction climb where you drew all our faces.

Your photographs.

You were always taking beautiful pictures of your friends, the people you meet, and the mountains you climb. (You even shot photos of the first Pinays on Everest for Candy!)

Making a difference with you.

For three years, we were on the Big Brother Big Sister committee together. I really admired your passion for helping those children in the mountains and bringing those backpacks and school supplies for them.

I am honored to have been part of such a wonderful project with you!

There are so many more stories I want to tell, but for now, I guess a simple Happy Birthday will do!

I know you are always watching over us from the highest summit of all.

Till we meet again,
Angel

I like myself best when I’m laughing and having a good time (see photo taken by Steph). Who doesn’t like that version of herself, right?

But do you ever wake up feeling like a huge dark cloud is looming over you? I’ve had plenty of those days but I always try to keep my spirits up with a few tried and tested tricks. Especially with this gloomy weather we’ve been having, we need more reasons to be in a happy mood!

Start your day with a good meal. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day (not to mention my favorite!). My current fave breakfast meal is a slice of toast slathered with half peanut butter and half Nutella and then topped with slices of banana. It’s really, really yummy and I always feel energized and ready to take on anything after this.

Listen to good music. The ride to work can take anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour so I always have my iPod ready. My current favorite: Passion Pit. Check out this cool video about the chorus who sang on their record:

Crack a joke. Even the corniest knock-knock jokes can have me in stitches. Spotting funny store names or store signs can get me laughing, too.

Surround yourself with purdy things. I found this site a couple of weeks ago and immediately bookmarked it. I love browsing inspiration websites. They remind me of all the beautiful things in the world. And somehow, I feel better.

Get a good night’s sleep. The body needs to recover from the day’s activities so you should give it as much time as it needs. The Candy Girls always tease me that it’s “past my bedtime” already whenever I’m up late. I find that sleeping early helps me wake up early. And when I’m up early, I get more things done. I’m also in a better mood when I’ve slept early compared to when I’m puyat.

What do you do to get yourself in a good mood?

Macy

I’ve kept a journal since the fourth grade, and if there’s one thing I noticed among all the hundreds of entries in my bazillion journals, it’s that my thoughts, though 100% honest, are edited and deliberate. Ever wonder how your thoughts would look in black and white, uncensored? Just free-flowing for all the world to see? Try it, you’ll find it’s liberating, and it’ll give a clue as to what you’re currently worried about

Mia’s Free Flow Take One
I need to pick up my dogs right now before the groomers’ close. That Baci Jo gave me was yummy! I can’t believe I ate an entire bag of gummy candy (the big kind shaped like lips and teeth nonetheless) in one sitting. But it’s okay, the sugar fueled my brain while working on that outline. Man, I can’t wait till Wednesday for Transformers. And for Saturday brunch with Ivy and Nash. Can’t believe Nash is getting married!!! We’re really all grown up now. If I finish work early, maybe I can hit the grocery and buy healthy snacks for baon. I want those Special K yogurt bars and those Quaker cookies. Ooh, maybe I can swing by Topshop and ogle the quilted purple bag again. Urk, my phone just beeped again. It must be the groomers’ reminding me to pick the two up. Poor furkids, waiting for me all day. Will definitely give them extra treats tonight. Oops, need to buy their fave kind, the green bone munchies—only have one left. Eek, haven’t texted or called Patrick all day. How on earth does he find time to text and call when his sched is crazier than mine? Need to send the menu to the caterer for my big party. Whee, can’t wait. All this party-planning stress will be worth it once I’m there and it’s finally D-day. Ack!!! Groomers’ closes in 15 minutes!!!