One Big Table

8:30 PM / Posted by Mariel / comments (4)


I have a recipe in this book! Talk about a FANTABULOUS birthday present!

I have yet to own a copy of the hefty 880-page read written by former New York Times food columnist Molly O'Neill, but as I've just found out tonight, my Milk Chocolate and Marshmallow Cornflake Cookie recipe made it on page 756! Here's a snippet from the Simon & Schuster website, describing the book and its author:

"Meticulously selected from more than 20,000 contributions, the cookbook's 600 recipes are a definitive portrait of what we eat and why. In this lavish volume—illustrated throughout with historic photographs, folk art, vintage advertisements, and family snapshots—O'Neill celebrates heirloom recipes like the Doughty family's old-fashioned black duck and dumplings that originated on a long-vanished island off Virginia's Eastern Shore, the Pueblo tamales that Norma Naranjo makes in her horno in New Mexico, as well as modern riffs such as a Boston teenager's recipe for asparagus soup scented with nigella seeds and truffle oil."

You'll find the full article here. And, my friend, Bianca Garcia—whose Pork and Chicken Adobo recipe is on page 502—blogged about One Big Table at Confessionsofachocoholic.com.

Will post my feature and recipe once I have a copy of the book!

Image courtesy of Simon & Schuster.

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Lanvin for H&M

9:47 PM / Posted by Mariel / comments (2)

The big shopping bag is by far my favorite part of the collection. It's cute enough to cut out, frame, and hang on the wall.
Alber Elbaz's new limited collection for H&M  hit stores today amidst wild anticipation from fierce fashionistas all over the metro, and dare I say, the world. The curious thing about this is that I don't consider myself an avid follower of fashion, as I tend to be "French" in my choices—as in keeping key pieces in heavy rotation and purchasing trendy pick-uppers and wardrobe boosters every season or so—and, I'm not exactly a fan of either brand. Lanvin, for obvious practical reasons; H&M, because of how items in the store seem to have dwindled in quality and overall Wow! that was so ubiquitous and unique of the brand back in 2006. [Afterthought: Well, Lanvin is French after all. So maybe eventually, when I can afford couture et. al., I'd have a better appreciation for the brand.]

Promising. (And yes, you do get a hanger when you buy a piece from the limited edition line.)

At a brand identity seminar I'd attended at my old job, words that came up to describe the store were "low quality," "cheap," with the speaker brazenly declaring that if it weren't for China, H&M wouldn't even be possible. In recent years, the store has cultivated such a bad reputation as witnessed by run-of-the-mill frocks so close to being actual designer knockoffs...or at least that's what people in New York have been saying, more or less. I for one, used to really like the store, up until maybe 2007, when I noticed that the items were, indeed, not so great anymore, and had a "cheap" and "plastic" feel to them, especially with the accessories. Gone was that whole Swedish-Euro vibe that first drew me in when I initially got to know the store on my first trip to London and a succeeding trip to Milan (I still have and wear H&M accessories purchased from back then).

You also get a cute canvas garment bag with your purchase of a dress, or in my case, a t-shirt.
(Or, you can politely ask the cashier for one, which I did.)

By the looks of it, Elbaz's new line promises to bring back that sense of quality and quirky-but-accessible fashion it seems to have lost amidst the mass production and plasticky neon accessories. But then, by all means do not take my word for it; I am no official authority in fashhh...ion. Plus, walking to where the Lanvin pieces were, I caught a glimpse of the regular accessories section and things seem to be looking up. I may just go back for that ballet-slipper pink floral statement necklace.

All that said, I hadn't seriously planned on being at the store to witness the hooplah surrounding the Lanvin for H&M collection. Yet, I do have "fierce fashionista" friends—former/current fashion editors, fashion students, etc.—who keep track of these things, and as if by osmosis, I am easily and automatically updated because if it were entirely up to me, I would only concern myself with food and home-related accoutrements, such as Giada de Laurentiis's collection for Target, you know...those kinds of things.

The smaller paperbag for the smaller pieces in the collection.

So, this morning, I discovered how the folks at H&M figured out a way to manage excited crowds by issuing color-coded wristbands that corresponded to specific timeslots. You had to be there early to get a wristband, along with some freebies. Well, I wasn't there that early; my friend/cousin-in-law, Happy David, gave me an extra wristband, and I had about 10 minutes to look at everything by the time it was my turn. I'm not kidding, I'd barely browsed the merchandise—which by noon had dwindled to a skeletal few—when someone announced, "four minutes." I got a cute embellished t-shirt and that was it. I'd originally wanted the yellow dress my other friend Kat Dy blogged about here but upon closer inspection, it didn't feel worth the splurge (plus, I'm still technically jobhunting, so $199 for a dress is a major no-no at this point). The shirt was a reasonable $39.95, considering the whole Lanvin thing, the embellishments, and the handmade feel to it.

I didn't have time to admire this embellished tee at the store, but when I tried it on at home, I found it to be quite fab. It can be dressed up or down; worn both in cold and warm weather. Now, how to wash it...

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Gadgeteering

9:53 AM / Posted by Mariel / comments (3)

My latest 'tech-quisitions.'

I am most inclined to leave the gadget-speak to former T3 Magazine EIC Vince Sales who now writes the blog, Third World Nerd. He also happens to be the husband of my very good friend Frances of Topaz Horizon and MORE (by that I mean author of two other popular blogs and EIC of entertainment mag, Ok!).

So, for you techies out there, the disclaimer for this post is simply, you won't find technical specifications here; Google and Amazon would be better for that.

Anyway, the two above are my latest 'tech-quisitions': a Nokia C5-00—a gift from my husband who knows me too well to not have gotten me a QWERTY phone, as I am old school that way—and a Western Digital My Passport Essential Ultra-portable Hard Drive, Robot Limited Edition (isn't it so cute?).

Two things:

1) If you regularly read this blog, you'd know that I'm not once to switch up or buy gadgets very frequently. But, since my Acer netbook has been with me for close to two years now (time flies!) I've started to get that nagging feeling to back up. Up until today, I've never owned an external hard drive, unless you'd count my old iPod, the one with the black-and-white screen. The Western Digital My Passport 'Robot' actually feels like a wider white iPod. Again, very cute. It's plug-and-play meaning I have to get used to not manually dragging and dropping files for back up.

2) I've had the same Nokia 6300 phone (photo here) since 2007—it still works great, is mega-sturdy, and reliable. Hence, it will be a little bit of a challenge to transition to the new C5-00, as I've come to rely on my 6300 for many things, which includes cooking and baking (for the countdown timer), notes (for blog ideas), calculating, etc. It will now house my Smart SIM card for roaming. That's all for now. I wanted to write about an aborted iPad purchase, but the details are kind of boring, so I'll save the iPad talk until I actually own one; which, by the looks of it, won't be until January.

Cute little things.

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Goodbye, mark.

10:17 PM / Posted by Mariel / comments (10)

I love how this picture "speaks" so many things.

When I got laid off from my job as a copywriter last week, I didn't feel as distraught as I'd had in the past when I'd experienced the loss of a job. For one, this was an honest-to-goodness, budget-related layoff—no boo-boos, no office drama...at least that's what I'd like to believe and what I've been reassured of.

In the 12 weeks/3 months I was working for Avon, I've come up with memorable taglines, emails, and collateral copy for the trend brand that is mark. I've met beautiful and amazing people in the course of my time there—so no regrets, more or less. I only wish I'd had more moments to grow and blossom within that environment, but I believe that the time one is given in a place, is the time one has in that place, like I've said in this post.

And, unlike in the past wherein it took me months, or even more than a year to pen my thoughts, this time I'm speaking out while it's fresh. It was such a very pleasant conversation that I'd had with my boss, that I now have fond memories of the office and of mark. Plus, I still have the eBoutique I'd put up for research, so maybe now I could actually market it; or at least finally shop for items online.

The photo above was taken over the weekend at a friend's birthday party. I love it because it speaks a thousand words: the mark. outfit and lipstick; the genuine smile and excitement that comes with the anticipation of dessert; the way my stacked rings were captured in the photograph; the delicious banoffee pie a friend of mine made (a recipe that a former colleague shared), and more. And just like how newlyweds cut the cake as a symbol of their new life together—or, as I've learned from an elderly, soft-spoken painter I'd met at the party, how stomping on a wine glass in Jewish weddings signifies "getting the first disaster out of the way"—I welcome this change with the same sheer anticipation of all great things to come.

With friends Kat and Happy at the latter's birthday breakfast where I got to borrow one of these gorgeous Alexis Bittar necklaces on my last day at mark. (the two actually had no clue that it was).

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Martha My Way

3:25 PM / Posted by Mariel / comments (2)

Martha Stewart Weddings, September 2010–February 2011 issue.

Yahoo! I'm one degree less separated from one of my favorite people in the world, with the recent feature of our beautiful/wonderful/fun/exciting wedding in Martha Stewart Weddings Philippines. Special thanks to editor-in-chief and my good friend, Tata Mapa, who had requested for the exclusive 'rights' to be the first to feature our wedding in a publication—print or online. Now, I'm not one to say no to anything Martha, so, here we are! Tata had actually met her in New York City and later on received a handwritten note from the domestic diva and kitchen maven herself. Love the gracious gesture and manners.

So now I can really share our photos with the rest of the world. You'll find some in my blog posts, "I got married!" and "Talking about suppliers," and of course, the YouTube slideshow below that I doubt I'll ever tire of viewing (and listening to) by photographer Pat Dy and team.



(Music by Jon Schmidt, "Love Story Taylor Swift meets Viva La Vida Coldplay Piano Cello" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KfH2BY5pdLw.)

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A Beauty Lesson

7:08 PM / Posted by Mariel / comments (0)

There's more science in the beauty and cosmetics industry than meets the eye.
At the Pond's Institute in Trumbull, Connecticut back in 2006.

I never thought I would become a beauty editor. Not once did it even occur to me that I would be working as one. True, at 18, I told myself I wanted to be an "editor" by age 24. But, at the time, I actually had no idea how to go about it and what kind, actually. (I did manage become an editor at 24, but that's the subject of another blog post.)

So what happened? I started as an intern at Seventeen Magazine back in 2000 when it launched its first international edition. Shortly before graduating, I was hired as an editorial assistant—not an unusual career trajectory for people who intern at magazines. The "beauty" part came in about two years after being hired for the position. I was getting fidgety, watching my contemporaries rise up to fashion, features, and managing editor positions, while I remained a work-all-sections EA, which quite frankly, was actually fun because I got to do everything. But, I probably had that particular career timeline at the back of my mind—or not; I was simply feeling envious of my colleagues. I brought this up to Maya, my first boss (see previous post) who earnestly told me and I will never forget this:

"Mariel, don't compare yourself to others."

I actually forgot exactly what she said after that, but the gist was that I shouldn't indeed be comparing myself with the other EAs who have already "moved forward" because 1) Seventeen was a different magazine, and 2) The position I wanted for myself—lifestyle and fitness assistant/editor—didn't exist in our magazine's masthead at the time.

But more importantly, Maya wanted me to make a decision. To paraphrase, "I don't know where to place you, what do you want to do? You can choose between beauty or features." At the time, Maddy, the fashion and beauty editor was getting ready leave for New York and the position was going to be shared by a fashion editor and a beauty editor who were yet to be hired.

Lille, the features editor (who remains a very very good friend, like most of the Seventeen girls), nudged, "Why don't you do beauty? You just got a car and you can drive to do pull-outs?" It was a simple as that: I could now physically go to the stores and borrow merchandise to write about.

So, that essentially was how I got my start in beauty. And then I walked the walk, talked the talk, worked the work. As the years went by, I no longer had to pull from stores because products simply arrived at my desk, beautifully packaged and brimming with all the science I've come to love to digest.

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Thank you, Seventeen

7:55 AM / Posted by Mariel / comments (4)

More and more, everyday, I recognize and realize how unique the working circumstances I'd had back at my first job in Seventeen. Along with the friendships that have stood the test of time (10 years!), the life lessons and work attitude I'd picked up along the way have proven to be invaluable. The funny thing is, it never even occurred to me that that training I received was quite the exception more than the norm. My first boss, Maya Calica, was exemplary in a way that she inspired and encouraged us to go for our goals and dream, DREAM big (even bigger, biggest…). We were all encouraged to verbalize what direction we wanted our careers to go, all the while putting a premium on quality work and an unwavering positive outlook.

So to Maya, Fran, Tata, Lille, Maddy, Anne, Monica, Margie, Mia, and everyone who made a Seventeen difference in my life, thank you for the experience of a lifetime.

Image courtesy of Whosdatedwho.com.

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It's Raining…Shoes!

12:10 PM / Posted by Mariel / comments (4)


Tuesday and Wednesdays were rainy days here in New York. Out came the rubber boots and umbrellas, and, if you ask me, I love it when it's wet out. But, the guy on the elevator was right in saying that it's only fun when you get to stay home in bed.

Speaking of puddle-friendly notes, two things:

1. I have another job online as managing editor for Studio One Networks, publishers of the TheStyleGlossy.com that now features a spin-off microsite catering to readership in Manila, Singapore, and Malaysia. I'm tasked to write two full-length articles every month (strictly editorial content!), as well as assign two bloggers who ideally can write very well and also have their own blogs (share the link love!). Of course, it was only natural for me to tap into my immediate circle of writer and editor friends. The latest post, "Shopping for Rain Boots" is written by former Cosmo fashion ed, Kat Dy, whom I've also blogged about here. You'll also find my "Rain-ready Wear" article here.

2. If the above piqued your interest in rain-footwear-shopping, check out Jildorshoes.com, where you can buy boots from Juicy Couture, Stuart Weitzman, as well as pricey leather Thierry Rabotin shoes, if that's your kind of thing. Of course you can't go wrong with a good Hunter Wellington boot, and the Canadian brand, Kamik (mine have stood the test of time for the latter). Personally, I'm still happy with what I have collected over the years and have no plans as yet to go shopping for new ones. But, with shoes, you never really know.

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Life Lessons Right This Minute

6:03 PM / Posted by Mariel / comments (1)

DAY 28
of the 30-Day Blog Challenge
You all know this scene!

I'm in the middle of a deadline, an article about, of all things, beauty etiquette and manners, and thought I'd squeeze in a blog post before the clock strikes midnight—my daily personal blog deadline for the last 28(!) days. I don't intend to do a third "Oops" post.

At the moment, I'm thinking about my friend Frances who had just given birth to her little bundle of joy (and, who had even managed to squeeze in a blog post in the middle of labor!). I've just glanced at the MMS again and my heart feels such joy for her and I simply find motherhood so magical. It's just different when it happens to a loved one, especially someone with whom you've shared the "no-children" sentiment for the longest time, only to eventually have Mother Nature have the last laugh. I know I'd be going down that road someday, no matter how much I repeatedly object.

So, as I think about all that, here are some notes I'd like to put in before I go back to my article.

1. Good manners go a long way.

Since I've already brought up the subject, might as well indulge. I've talked about my Tita Joan so many times in this blog. Again, I'm bringing her up, because if there's someone who's the epitome of good manners and grace, it's her. True, my teens were marked by non-stop prompts to be "sensitive toward others" and to be more aware of my surroundings. But now that I'm older, I realize that the more manners come second to nature to a person, the better s/he can function in society and focus on the more important things. There's a reason why your parents teach you not to talk with your mouth full when you're little; or to not interrupt in conversations: because when you're older, there's really not much time to fixate on these things as you try to live your life. However, I believe one should take some sort of refresher course every now and then (I'd written two posts here in this blog back in November—part 1 and part 2—on etiquette if you're interested). And, when etiquette-related boo-boos happen, one must simply have a sense of humor about it. Again, there are bigger things in life than getting your place settings right.


2. Peace that passes understanding.

I've just skimmed my "Go in peace" post from last year's Inspiration Series. I had a feeling I'd already written about this phrase and true enough, I have. I just got reminded of it yesterday when I finally was able to speak of the pain with the person who had caused all that pain (actually, come to think of it, even moments before that if I remember correctly). I know that over the past two years, I'd reconciled the issue and have weighed in on the benefits of having gone through that time...and emerging a happier person. But, it was nice to finally speak out and get it out there...and officially put an end to that chapter and happily move along.


3. Positive people attract positive EVERYTHING.

I've witnessed this in friends and former colleagues, including Frances. People who, with conviction, know that life is good, and goodness in life is abundant, truly live in goodness and abundance! They attract life's best moments, opportunities, and experiences, and celebrate accordingly. This only reminds me further that happiness is a decision you make. You can choose to fixate on what's wrong in your life and in the world, but time is better spent reveling in the brighter side of things.

Image courtesy of Warner Bros. and http://www.hotflick.net.

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New Blog on the Block

8:12 PM / Posted by Mariel / comments (3)

DAY 18
of the 30-Day Blog Challenge

Visit Kat Dy Finds.

Kat Dy is the former fashion editor of Cosmopolitan Philippines, who also is now based in New York City, studying even more fashion! What I like about Kat's style is that she mixes high and low with ease, and she always looks effortlessly styled and never contrived (even when she's wearing piles and piles of necklaces on a regular day). She's also practical: meaning, she know when flats make better sense (hello, NYC) and when sky-highs are in order.

She was also very generous enough to let me stay in her apartment for two weeks when I just got in while she went on holiday for her birthday.

Which brings me to...her blog! Kat has just started KatDyFinds.com, a blog about stuff for a girl with "champagne tastes on a beer budget." And, here's how she describes herself: "Well, I'm more like the girl who gets an $8 bottle of sweet white wine that everybody likes. It's not champagne, it's not beer, it's somewhere in between yet just as lovely. Here is where I share all the amazing finds, bargains, deals, tricks and everything else in between that I chance upon."

Her recent post is about these "LOVE" shoes—I've already seen her wearing them and hadn't noticed that the cutouts spell the word out! So amazing! Read more about them here.

"Love" sandals.

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Library Hours

12:18 PM / Posted by Mariel / comments (4)

DAY 7
of the 30-Day Blog Challenge

As a freelancer I'd recently taken to getting work done in one of the libraries midtown. And now that I've just started working full-time in an office again, the library remains a resource for me to get up to speed on the work and blogging that I still do whether or not my weekdays are occupied. (Oh, I can't wait to talk about recent developments in my NY job "exploration"; things have taken an AMAZING turn! Hint: It's like being beauty editor again!)

Anyway, I have to thank my friend John Reyes (shameless plug: If you need a PR associate for your company, he has an unbeatable work ethic!) for showing me this particular library. You see, the one where they shot the Spider-Man movie is more like a museum. And, after experiencing a little bit of rudeness a few years back (I forget the details, something about having some takeout food in my purse), I never set foot inside again. Only to find out a few weeks ago that about two blocks away, is a friendlier, cozier Mid-Manhattan Library featuring six floors of working and reading space. The fourth floor has complimentary Wi-fi and a laptop charging station; along with rows and rows of computers one could use for free.

Americans are truly lucky to have this public resource available to them up to seven days a week, thanks to a few branches that are open even on Sundays. The Mid-Manhattan branch in particular, has even extended its library hours by opening earlier in the morning and closing later in the evening (up to 11pm!) on certain days, on top of already being open seven days a week. To quote from their tagline, "You can never have too much Library!"

Walk this way. One of almost a hundred libraries in New York.

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Point of View

7:25 PM / Posted by Mariel / comments (5)

DAY 6
of the 30-Day Blog Challenge

One word: amazing.

I'd recently been invited to a dinner party hosted by one of my good friends and her boyfriend, and was greeted by this spectacular view upon entering the apartment along the water's edge in Brooklyn. I'd barely made it through the niceties with the hosts and owner of the lease because my gaze immediately wandered off to the horizon, totally in awe. The furniture and decor were also very streamlined and tasteful. And, that kitchen! Sigh, which only reminds me, I need to get back to writing about food and actually cooking AND baking. My poor All My Sugar blog!

Anyway, photos. (I know, I know—my latest posts have been short, and more...picturesque! But, hope you're enjoying the 30-Day Blog Challenge.)

Lounge in style.


Hosts Mark and Pat in that lovely open kitchen.
(Mark holds regular eat-in parties where guests take turns cooking each night.)


"From another point of view..."


Matching the decor in one of my favorite Kate T. dresses.


A cute and cuddly cat named Moneypenny.

Dear friends, Nicole and Kat.

There was food, lots of it—pasta, bread, chicken barbecue...

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Lip, Lip...Hooray!

8:23 AM / Posted by Mariel / comments (0)

It's been a while since I've written about beauty here at Ny Minute Now, ever since I'd moved all the beauty articles over at BeautyintheBigApple.com. However, this afternoon, I got to thinking about sharing my two latest lip finds.

On my way to the ladies' room at the office earlier, my friend, Pia Rojas, fashion and beauty editor of Good Housekeeping, casually said, "Go to my desk, I have lipstick for you."

Now, while I've more discerning than ever with what I put on my face and body these days, I rarely turn down beauty products. I no longer get to test-drive a kazillion items for work, so I actually now have to head to the counters and supermarkets, or rely on the generous donations of my editor friends for personal care items, as you can tell from above.

Anyway, that said, you must check out Revlon Colorburst™ Lipsticks in Soft Nude and Grape. The former is a delicious neutral shade that seems blah at first swipe, but instantly transforms into a healthy pillowy pink, once topped with your favorite old-rose gloss. The latter, meanwhile, looks like a rich plum inside the tube, and based on the nude I've tried, goes on soft and creamy on the lip. And that's saying a lot, coming from someone not exactly a fan of rouge, who consciously takes it off before eating!


Pictured above are Revlon ColorBurst Lipsticks in True Red, Fuchsia and Baby Pink. Image courtesy of Harper's Bazaar.

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Carrot Cake Update

7:25 PM / Posted by Mariel / comments (0)


I've made carrot cake a couple of times before, but this has got to be the cutest one so far. Frances recently "hinted" over Facebook that she craved for carrot cake, and like what they say, one must never turn down a pregnant woman! (She blogged about it here and here!) Anyway, I posted the recipe in AllMySugar.com. I have to update that blog more regularly if I want to channel all my Food Network dreams, or even just keep my food-momentum.

One day at the office pantry with Coni Tejada of Real Living—with a slice of my carrot cake—and Frances of Ok! Magazine, holding up some Red Velvet cupcakes made by Nicole Delos Angeles (also a former Cosmo editor and now beauty editor-at-large for Ok! and Candy Magazine).

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Past and Pasta

1:25 AM / Posted by Mariel / comments (2)

"Past is past and pasta makes it better."

That's what my friend, Frances, said earlier. I won't tell you why my heart is twitching again. But it has something to do with food that I miss, that can only be bought in one of the most special places in the world.


Okay, some of you know where that is. Anyway, I'm off to Cibo for honest-to-goodness, serotonin-boosting noodles, and then a Sex and the City 2 movie premiere tonight with my husband. Happier hours up ahead for sure.

Image courtesy of BusinessWeek.com.

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Beyond Shoes and Bags

4:00 PM / Posted by Mariel / comments (4)

A world beyond shoes and clothes.

At my own internship experience 10 years ago, I looked forward to coming to work everyday. Each opportunity presented a new learning experience, and I was happy to take in as much as I could. The magazine industry in Manila back then was still somewhat in its infancy, and we were all still finding our feet. I reckon it was a great time to have been able to dip my toe in, and then jump (and swim) in the growing magazine pool. Among friends, we still refer to a certain time as the Golden Age of Glossies.

Fast-forward to 2010, it's nice to know that magazines are standing the test of time (in a not-so-glossy economy) and have evolved to breathtaking, awe-inspiring, and excellently edited works compiled by the most talented and hardworking people in the business. And most importantly, they are still very much FUN. True, the demands have grown, the responsibilities are more vast, and the consequences to delinquent behavior are more magnified, but I still see it as one happy and dynamic capsule, exploding with infinite opportunities.

When I see interns Alex, Gaile, and Yen at work, I catch a glimpse of this sense of wonder and eagerness to be part of something bigger than themselves; to explore the world beyond their comfort zones. I notice Alex arrive 30 minutes before everybody else; Gaile, quietly and diligently helping our fashion editor with her pages; and Yen discovering the wonderful—and tedious—world of beauty. So much to take in, so little time.

I ended up staying on board as an intern for four months, eventually becoming an editor for many years. Magazine publishing remains my first love and forever home, wherever I am in the world, and however it is presented (online, over the iPad, in the moon...). And for Alex, Gaile, and Yen, I paraphrase the words of Stanley Tucci's character, Nigel, in The Devil Wears Prada: I only hope for the best—I have to.


Originally published at Cosmo.ph/FlawlessatWork. Image courtesy of Cinecon.com and 20th Century Fox

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Something from Kate

8:11 PM / Posted by Mariel / comments (0)

"I'm not entirely fearless. I have my own fears, too, I have insecurities. But I go out there anyway and do what I want to do and make the most of my life."

That's designer and musician, Kate Torralba, on being fun and fearless. Kate as you may already know is a friend of mine who also designed my lovely wedding dress (photo in this post). She's one of Cosmo's Fun Fearless Female awardees this year and she gave an insightful interview online about how she started her fashion career as a hobby and a "happy accident." Read the Cosmo.ph article here.

Image courtesy of Cosmo.ph

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In the Loop

2:18 AM / Posted by Mariel / comments (6)

My new project, a la Running in Heels!

It's nice to kind of be back at my old job where I'm currently running the internship program until classes start in this part of the world. Three lucky girls were chosen from almost a hundred,[correction, more than 100; 151 actually from when I last counted] and in terms of talent, personality, and work ethic, they are quite a cute bunch. Cute is a word I've chosen for now because we all just started and we're still in the getting-to-know-you stage.

I met the girls for the first time on Monday and while I can't really talk about specifics, one girl gets to fly out to New York City at the end of the program. As the director I am more or less responsible for choosing who that would be, but I have the help of other 'heads of state,' so to speak.

Anyway, after working freelance—as in no office building—I find it both refreshing and amusing to be in the presence of cubicles, and of course, old friends and colleagues! Earlier I realized how being at the office felt like one big living room where so many people who helped shaped my work and personal life were simply footsteps away; it's amazing!

A few cubicles down is my dear friend Frances, who, at six months pregnant has a cute bump and a waddle to her walk [Oh dear Neighbor I actually haven't noticed the waddle; I only took your word for it from your blog :)]. The heels are gone but she still looks fab, as how editors-in-chief look and carry themselves. It's so nice to easily get to catch up with her in the pantry, or pop by her desk to chat...or in the case of this afternoon, check out her beauty product stash. I'm one mascara rich today :)

Directly behind me is Preview Magazine's EIC, Pauline Juan, who always looks effortlessly fashionable. Also close by is editorial director, Myrza Sison, former Marie Claire EIC who recently relaunched the new Femalenetwork.com. And the desk next to me belongs to my good friend, former Seventeen associate editor Tata Mapa, who now helms Martha Stewart Weddings. So cool. It's exactly like how my dad described how one should work: that it shouldn't feel like it.

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Out!

4:11 AM / Posted by Mariel / comments (0)

Today's 'closet call' brought to you by me and my big mouth!
(By the way, this probably is TV's most famous New York closet!)

I think I may have accidentally outed a person I'd just met earlier at lunch. Talk about embarrassing, and I am so sorry!

In the "fashion world" where I'd like to think I come from (but not really; I'm mostly just on the sidelines), it's quite normal to talk about who's out, who's in the closet, with someone who probably has just come out himself, something strange like that, although that has never happened to me. I did out a friend who happened to not be gay, and he anyway kind of agreed to email me in the event he did come out in the near or distant future—which really goes to show that these kinds of conversations exist in my world.

These day-to-day stories among friends are interspersed with fashion trends, beauty news, or celebrity tidbits. And anything and everything about beauty and lifestyle are shared over sumptuous lunches capped by cups of tea and slices of cake. At least that's how I remember my old life, way before I moved to New York. These days, I'm more likely to be checking what Martha Stewart or Ina Garten have to say about a kitchen project I'm trying out, which probably goes to show why my social and mingling skills are kind of rusty (or amiss) at this point.

Image courtesy of Stylecaster.com.

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Talking about suppliers

6:56 PM / Posted by Mariel / comments (17)

Designer Kate Torralba's trademark handbags with her custom dresses.

Now, I was no bridezilla and friends could attest to that. In fact, I was kind of spacey and floaty about the whole thing. When asked for certain preferences when it came to bridal fashion, flowers, or fabrics, I left a big part of the decision-making process to whomever was the expert. I had my basic 'requirements' ("I slouch so I would like for the straps to cross at the back so they don't fall off, and I also have a paunch.") and palette ("The colors of the Diane Von Furstenberg romper I bought with my first copy editor paycheck."), and practically gave the suppliers free reign to do whatever they did best.

And it was so worth it; I was blown away by the result. You definitely get what you pay for and if you trust people to do their thing, you could really end up with something unbelievably good, beautiful, and lovely. If you're planning your own wedding, this is a good time to pause and ponder priorities. What aspects of the big day are important to you and your partner? For Alvs and myself, we skipped the videographer altogether (I don't really like all those hot, bright lights blocking the ceremony in sight) and alloted our budget on photography, hiring the best wedding photographer we know, Pat Dy.

Good photography: can't be beat.

So again, the best way to talk about my wedding suppliers is through photos and anecdotes. Starting with...

THE DESIGNER

None other than Kate Torralba, who I met way back in Seventeen. Those early days were just fun and promising, and it was nice getting to know certain people during that time. While many people would assume that having been a beauty editor meant instant access to a busload of designers, that is actually only the case if you're a fashion editor. There is a difference. The beauty side of the magazine may be glamorous yet oftentimes, it's more nerdy and science-related than most people think. We get to know clothes by necessity, when we have to pull items from shops and use them for shoots. Occasionally, we contact designers for custom pieces, but this is rare in the world of beauty editorials which feature closeup pictures of models' faces.

Anyway, the point of all the above is, I only know and have worked with a few fashion designers. Less than five, actually. All except three of the custom pieces I own are made by Kate. So it was very easy to decide to go with her for my wedding gown.

Absolutely LOVE my dress!

FLOWERS

Our wedding coordinator, Bong Abela, also happened to be an event stylist and florist. And again, I'm not particular about flowers and I just wanted them to basically follow the color scheme and essentially not be ugly. Plus, we were on a budget. Fortunately, the fabrics from the motif were already very busy and flowery, that we got away with using plenty of foilage and greens. Honestly, I don't even remember what the flower arrangement looked like at the church. And by reception, it was already dark so I didn't even notice. Again, priorities.


HAIR & MAKEUP

The first makeup artist I ever met when I started working almost 10 years ago in Seventeen was Peddy Acebo. At the time, I knew NOTHING about makeup and he basically let me go through his makeup box, showing me a bottle of BeneTint in the process. Over the years, we would go on out-of-town shoots and the staff simply loved booking Peddy because of his great work ethic, and of course, talent for beautifying. I loved how, on the day of the wedding, he exclaimed, "You're the only bride who asked for blue [eyeshadow]!"

Peddy also brought along hairstylist Bong Vicentico, who did a fab job with my purposely-tousled updo. You won't have to worry about hair styling products if you get a supplier who is experienced in the field of magazine editorials and advertising; or even just someone who has done numerous bridal parties to know what works for each hair type, who could also recommend a good shampoo and conditioner for you.


Flawless, thanks to Peddy and Bong!

CHURCH & VENUE

As some of you may already know, we decided three months before the wedding to move it out of town, to the lovely city of Cebu, and have a beach reception. My husband is great with logistics and details, and I believe I'm good with big-picture stuff, so it worked out. Of course we had our share of fighting and arguing (mostly him complaining about how I was so up in the air about the big event), but we did good. And I also got plenty of help with the travel planning and family coordination thanks to my cousin, Jacque, who's more like a sister.

Be Resorts (formerly Microtel Inn & Suites) in Mactan Island, Cebu.


The beautiful Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral


INVITATIONS

I'm still good friends with my only ex-boyfriend, Ruben Flores, (his family owns The Chocolate Kiss Cafe—a good reason to never burn bridges!) whose new girlfriend Trina Valenzuela, makes the best wedding invites, in my very biased opinion. No, seriously, her work is absolutely beautiful, thorough, and unique. From the custom artwork to the paper quality, down to the handling and delivery, everything is just so exquisitely made (she delivers the invites in this neat white box tied with a chocolate brown bow, tagged with the logo). To see is to believe. Drop by http://vprojekt.multiply.com to see more of her excellent work.

If you like good-quality paper and stationery, Trina Valenzuela of
village pro'jekt designs and concepts is your girl.

Okay, I'm sure I'm forgetting other suppliers, but this is enough wedding talk for now. If you would like contact details of all those mentioned above, just leave a comment and I'll answer your questions :)

DVF Romper photo courtesy of Thisnext.com. All other photographs except for the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral (which I took) are by Pat Dy and team.

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