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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

Posted in Bond, Girl!, Love | 1 Comment »

Hi Candy Girls!

September is a busy month for me. Aside from it being my mom’s and my birthday month, it is also when Candy holds the biggest, undoubtedly most exciting event of the year: the Candy Fair! *insert squeal here*

In the months leading to September, we stress over which boys to shoot and include in the magazine (you deserve no less than the best!), who to put on the cover, what songs to play at the fair (Koko obsesses over this all the time), what kind of fun booths to include (we know you can’t get enough of photo booths!), and most importantly: which celebrity and regular Candy Cuties to invite to the Fair. Some of these things might seem trivial, but really, we just want every little thing to be right so that we produce the best Candy Fair for you girls. (We’ve been meeting your expectations each year, right?)

And now, in less than a week, you’ll be rubbing elbows with other Candy Girls (this is a good venue to make new friends!), asking your favorite Candy Cuties to sign your mini-mag (if I were still a teen, I’d probably ask Axel Torres and James McDermott to sign my copy), and screaming tirelessly when the celebrity of your dreams appears onstage (Sam or Elmo—even we can’t decide!). <3

Be sure to wear your cutest park-themed getup (yes, we’re “going outdoors” this year), pack your pen and the Candy September 2011 issue (you can’t get in without it), and we’ll see you at the Megatent Events Venue beginning 9 am. The program starts around lunch time and will end at 5 pm.

Twitter users, make the Candy Fair a trending topic by tweeting about the event and adding the hashtag #candyfair2011.

So excited to see you there!
Mimi

Posted in Bond, Girl!, Candy, Love | 6 Comments »

Hi Candy Girls!

As my mom turns 60 tomorrow, let me share with you 10 lessons I’ve learned from her over the years:
1) Always be on time for school, parties, work… People always appreciate a punctual person.
2) Make your bed and fix your room. No one else will do it best.
3) Treat other people with respect (even the help!).
4) Learn to appreciate a simple meal, and don’t be picky about what’s set on the table.
5) Push yourself to be the best at every single thing you do. That way, when you fail, you won’t look back with any regrets.
6) Don’t be afraid to look silly in pictures.

This is one of my fave snaps of my mom and nephew—hamming it up while sporting matching foot casts.
7) Be prepared for everything. Pack an emergency kit in your bag filled with Band-aids, sanitary napkin, and medicine. Who knows when you or a friend might need it, right?
8) Think twice before you throw away something. It might still be of use to someone else.
9) Know when to kick back and relax. Take time out to watch your favorite TV shows (she’s a big fan of Koreanovelas!) and travel when you can (she sparked my wanderlust by taking me on trips as a kid).
10) Always make your family and friends feel loved, whether it’s as simple as calling them on the phone to ask how they are or as tedious as cooking for an entire day just to make their favorite dishes.

A family portrait from my Dad’s 60th birthday celebration. Now it’s my Mom’s turn!

My mom is a resilient, selfless, and totally loving person. Isn’t it obvious that she is my hero? My birthday wish for the most influential female in my life is to have more happy and healthy years to come—spent with me, of course! I still have so much to learn from her…

Mimi

Posted in Love | 5 Comments »

Five truths that prove I am a huge Jared Leto fan:

1) I recorded My So-Called Life episodes on my rusty VHS player, and dressed in plaid outfits and Doc Martens like Claire Danes’s Angela Chase—so that I could pretend slacker heartthrob/expert locker leaner Jordan Catalano was in love with me. Sometimes, I would even wear a piece of leather around my neck and pretended it was his. (Yes, I was delusional.)

2) Seven years after, I saved up and bought the original DVD box set of the said show the moment it was released. (Thank God my friend/office mate was headed to the States back then.)

3) Despite appearing like a backpacking Jesus Christ back in January 2004, I recognized him walking inside the Bangkok airport, froze, hesitated, then ultimately ran after him to ask for a photograph.

He was apparently filming Alexander with Collin Farrell back then, and so I endured watching that lengthy movie just to see glimpses of him and those beautiful blue eyes. I swear, I could just drown in them.

4) When my sister was about to give birth to my nephew, I suggested the name Jared because I realized that all the Jareds I knew were good-looking. Haha! Then again, it was an excuse to say the name over and over and hope that his apparent gorgeousness would rub off on my nephew. (It worked!)

5) When his first official album with 30 Seconds to Mars came out, I listened to the CD, downloaded bootleg versions, and watched their live performances and music videos (some of which he directed!) over and over again. I prayed I would see him perform live, hear him sexily utter French words (you should listen to his cover of Lady Gaga’s “Bad Romance”) and watch him scream his head off.

Former Candy EIC Ines would hear me play “The Kill” over and over again, and she thought the lyrics were “Come break me down/marry me/marry me” when it was supposed to be “bury me.” Then again, I wouldn’t mind saying yes to this fine specimen.

Are you watching the 30 Seconds to Mars concert at Trinoma Mall Mindanao Ave. Open Parking Lot this Friday? You can still buy tickets through Ticketworld 891-9999 or SM Tickets 470-2222 for P4212 (Gold Standing) and P2025 (Silver Standing).

See you there!
Mimi

Posted in Love | No Comments »

A good father is one of the best gifts life can give you. When you were a little kid, your dad probably constructed elaborate costumes for your school presentations, or fixed the broken toys you shed buckets of tears over, or put a Band-Aid over that gaping wound on your knee while you screamed into his ear in agony. Now that you’re a young adult, he probably does most (if not all) of these things for you, lovingly and constantly and unconditionally: drive you to parties, take you on family vacations, give you extra cash for that pair of shoes you “absolutely must have,” comfort you over a broken heart (and not say I told you so), put up with your mood swings, stay up all night to help you with your algebra homework, and stand by you patiently as you go through the alternating heaven and hell that is teenage life.

A good father is one of the best gifts life can give you—and one you should be grateful for every day. I know I definitely am. My dad is the strongest, kindest, funniest, most generous man I know, and I will always feel lucky to be his daughter.

In an episode of Parenthood, Crosby Braverman fondly talks about his relationship with his dad, consequently describing the kind of father he’d like to be (with a bit of help, of course; the guy has…issues) to his son Jabbar. What he said was so simple but so perfect and touching, and I thought I’d share it with you guys:
“He was a great dad. You know, he was always making me laugh and taking me places, and he smiled every time he saw me. And he thought I was funny, and he could never stay mad at me because he loved me so much. And the point I’m trying to make is I can’t imagine who I would be without him.”

How are you celebrating Father’s Day? Don’t forget to give your dad a big hug—I’m sure that will be more than enough to make him happy.

Love,
Marla

Posted in Candy, Love, Reality Bytes | 3 Comments »