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I love traveling. But traveling usually means a looot of walking, which usually translates to horribly calloused and blistered feet at the end of your trip.

That’s why I made sure to pack my comfiest pairs: my trusty Nike Dunks (I went with the khaki and white one since it’s neutral enough to pair with anything) and my Posh Pocket tassel flats (perfect for the dress I’m wearing tonight to watch Wicked!). Can’t wait to explore more of Singapore today. (:

What about you? What kind of footwear do you bring on trips?

Love,
Macy

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When the odd weekend arrives and I have nothing better to do, I find myself going through my DVD collection to replay my all-time favorite movies! Here are some of my top lists split into various themes:

Period Films
1) A Room with a View (It’s odd seeing a young Helena Bonham Carter look normal!)
2) Pride and Prejudice (The chemistry between Keira Knightley and Matthew MacFadyen is so palpable!)
3) Sense and Sensibility (Emma Thompson and Kate Winslet are brilliant as sisters in this movie)

’80s John Hughes Flicks
1) Some Kind of Wonderful (whenever I see this movie, I would always wish I could play the drums like the heroine)
2) The Breakfast Club (you’ll laugh then marvel at how the archetypes in this movie are so spot-on)
3) Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (I wish I experienced this kind of crazy fun in high school!)

Rom Com Movies
1) Never Been Kissed (I must have seen this movie a million times, no joke!)
2) Love Actually (they intertwined the stories of the characters without making them seem pilit)
3) Wedding Singer (I really love how they captured the best elements of the ’80s in this flick)

Laugh Out Loud
1) Easy A (the “Pocket Full of Sunshine” scene just cracks me up!)
2) Bridesmaids (I’m a huge SNL fan and Kristen Wiig is one of my favorite comedians)
3) She’s the Man (Amanda Bynes can do no wrong in this movie!)

Incidentally, Easy A is showing on HBO next Sunday, November 27, at 10 pm on HBO, so if you need a breather from school work and your parents will let you stay up, make sure to watch it. It truly is hilarious!

Feel free to share your own favorites,
Mimi

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Hi Candy Girls!

There are approximately six weeks to go before Christmas Day comes along. I’m so looking forward to the cool weather, the upcoming parties, and the gifts I’ll be giving and receiving (did you know that I absolutely love opening presents? Especially the ones that are so beautifully wrapped!). Last weekend, I started searching for Christmas gifts by heading to the bookstore and picking out coloring/writing materials for my little friends (mostly adorable kids of my HS barkada). While doing the usual rounds, I made a detour to Brat Pack so that I could check out buy an Urban Junket T.O.T.E. bag. I first saw it in person when our Beauty Editor Tatin brought it to a shoot, and I couldn’t resist taking silly pictures with it and the three styles that single bag could transform into. Ah-maaay-zing!

Thank you Macy for taking these cute pictures!

It was supposed to be my Christmas present for myself, but when I got to the store, I was surprised to find out that the collection was pulled out from the branch and moved to another location. SOB! I knew I shouldn’t have waited days to visit the store. Bottom line: It just wasn’t meant to be.

As I slowly and sadly walked away from Brat Pack (haha, drama!), I decided to drop by one of my fave shopping spots, Accessorize. Lo and behold, there was a big sign that said, “50% off on bags!” My eyes lit up, and you can guess what happened next… I bought two bags on the spot!

I was contemplating on getting this or another bag for everyday use. I asked my mom if they could give this to me as a Christmas present and they agreed. Hooray!

I love the bold color and size of this satchel. Perfect for concerts!

I felt that the weekend was extra productive because aside from buying people gifts, I was able to find some for myself too! HAHA! What are you dying to get this Christmas? Share your list with us below!

Definitely not a Scrooge,
Mimi

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I’ve been to Baguio a countless number of times. My family and I would disappear for a week during summer into a green house on Sunflower Street. My mom would shop for food at the market and we’d hole up in the house the entire 7 days, not moving from the couch or bed. Those summers were the best!

Just 3 years ago, I got to go to Baguio with Marla and even hung out with Sam Concepcion. And last year, I was there with Mimi to check out a new hotel!

And still, there were so many places I hadn’t been to when I came back over the long weekend.

We stayed in Casa Vallejo, a charming boutique hotel that’s been around since 1909! It was a homey place that had a fireplace in the lobby (we wish they lit it up, though!). Plus, a Christmas tree, where we took so many photos! I loved that it was along Session Road and was near enough for us to just walk to the market.

Our first stop, though, was the BenCab Museum. I’ve heard about it before but never had the chance the visit until now. It was a great start to our trip: looking at art, posing with the bulols, and having lunch at Cafe Sabel with an awesome view.

Here I am with my college besties and our NFFs. (:

Our next stop was Forest House for dinner. We were in luck that the resto was full so we got to go down to what I think is part of their bed and breakfast. It was quiet and cozy and super Christmas-y. We shared this Strawberry Al Heston (cream with fresh strawberries) and double decker fudge cake with a scoop of strawberry ice cream for dessert.

I’ve been to Oh My Gulay! on my previous trips, but it was my friends’ first time. I made sure to take another picture with this purty mosaic on the second floor. The few veggie places I like, I make sure to come back to. (:

We had a hard time looking for Good Shepherd (the maps app totally directed us to some unknown back route!), but our reward was a steaming mug of hot chocolate from Choco-late de Batirol in Camp John Hay. I had my Orange Hot Choco, which was deelish! We also played a round of Monopoly Here and Now: The World Edition (if you have an iPad, download it! It’s so much fun!)

For dinner, we headed to Cafe by the Ruins (can you believe it, it was my first time here!). My friends had the famous Baguio Bagnet while I had the Crispy Tapa (like adobo flakes!) with my lemon grass iced tea.

On our last day, we walked to Pizza Volante along Session Road and had pizza and waffles for breakfast. They had this on the menu: vanilla ice cream in coffee and I knew I had to get it. Reminded me of Koko and her fascination with affogato, haha!

It was a short but sweet trip to start my birthday week. (: Can’t wait to go back! Do you have any favorite places in Baguio that you think I should check out next time? Leave me a comment!

Love,
Macy

Casa Vallejo
Upper Session Road, Luneta Hill, Baguio City

Bencab Museum
Km. 6 Asin Road, Tadiangan Tuba

Forest House
16 Loakan Road, Baguio City

Oh My Gulay!
4F La Azotea Building, Session Road, Baguio City

Cafe by the Ruins
Chuntug Street, Baguio City

Pizza Volante
82 Session Road, Baguio City

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Hey girls!

It’s no secret but my cousin Audrey is a huge Westlife fan. When Candy got invited to attend their press con, she begged me I asked her to cover the event and share her one-of-a-kind experience with us. Take it away, Auds…

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Hi Candy Girls!

September 29, 2011 was like an unbelievable dream to me… It all started when my best friend Adeleine and I went to the airport to wait for our favorite band to arrive. Lucky for us, Ade’s mom knew someone from the airport so we got passes to stay in the immigration area. We were the only fans there, so it felt like we were VIPs! At 12:17am, their plane landed. After what seemed like an everlasting wait (seriously though, it was just over 15 minutes—tops!), the four Irish lads breezed through immigration, and we were lucky enough to take a picture with Nicky!

That’s me and Ade with Nicky (spot Shane at the back getting his passport stamped, haha!)

Less than 12 hours after that fateful first meeting, we trekked to EDSA Shangri-La to attend the Westlife press conference. It started around 3:40 pm since the lads weren’t informed (ugh!). We didn’t get the chance to ask a question, but just staring at them, hearing their voices, and sitting in the front row made the wait really worth it! One of the highlights of the press con was Mark saying, “Something very magical happened 10 years ago when we released our first and second albums. The first time we came to Manila for a concert, it was one of the most mind-blowing experiences of our life—to come from so far away and for everyone to know our names, pets’ names, brothers’ names… They know so much about us. It was such an overwhelming experience! We got off to a great start, and over the years, we just tried to come back as much as possible.”

Mark, Kian, Shane, and Nicky all smiles during the press con

Concert time! This year’s Gravity Tour featured hit songs from Westlife’s previous albums like “My Love” and “When You’re Looking Like That” as well as some of their newer singles. Of course, there’s a medley in every tour they have, and I found this year’s medley really fun and entertaining because of the songs they picked (Lady Gaga’s “Bad Romance” was cool!) and the blue-red-yellow Mickey Mouse shirts they wore! The crowd was extra loud that night too! Even Shane tweeted that the audience was the loudest crowd he’s heard in a long time. I guess that just really proves how much the Filipino fans missed them.

What an amazing day it was for me! For someone who has loved and supported them for years, it’s a dream come true to see them again in the flesh! It was crazy, hectic, and tiring 24 hours, but I know my friend and I will always look back and consider it as one of the best fangirl moments of our lives! Hopefully, we’ll see the boys again soon. Maybe for their Greatest Hits World Tour?

A girl can dream…
Audrey

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Did you enjoy reading about Audrey’s “I’ll do anything for Westlife” fangirl adventure? Speaking of fangirls, Candy‘s brilliant lifestyle editor, Marla Miniano, captures the insane moments of being a devoted fan in her newest book called—you guessed it!—Fangirl. The book is already out in all bookstores, so get your copies now and tell us what you think!

A fangirl through and through…
Mimi

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