Those White Wings

MAY 2011 SEE YOUR SPIRITS SOAR over any adversity and may you live happy, peaceful and free.

Happy New Year!

White Wings by Rudy San Pedro.

Those Holiday Mojitos and Joanna Gleason

IT BEGAN IN THE KITCHEN, where our White House gatherings usually do. Jaime added some holiday into the spirit he is often expected to make by substituting lime with cranberry. Or was it adding?

I couldn't drink anyway so I took photos and folded napkins while waiting. Before we knew it, we were all together again! Chopping, grating, reheating and garnishing, smoking, laughing and talking all at the same time, it felt like we'd never really been apart.

And with a post-dinner/pre-dessert break to watch excerpts from the Sondheim concert DVD, it felt like nothing's really changed.

Holidays are merrier when good friends come home. Welcome back Mike and Mia!

Christmas dinner at the White House, December 2010.

That Countdown

TWO DAYS TILL NEW YEAR'S EVE. Two days until I finish my week-long course of antibiotics. Two days to do a list of resolutions, to wait until my next paycheck -woohoo!- and to figure out how I'm spending the start of 2011.

Two days and I can drink again! Finally!

While Christmas is for warm, heartfelt gatherings with those who are dear, I've always associated New Year's Eve with excess, rowdiness and vice. And as I have yet to attend a long-gown countdown, NYE shall remain a night for the minidress.

Above, two in black, two asymmetric and two sparkly. Each festive, each sinful and each for starting the new year with a bang.

Alexander Wang stretch-jersey and silk-chiffon dress, Elizabeth and James washed-satin bustier dress, Roberto Cavalli Python-print one-shoulder dress, Alexander Wang one-shoulder ruched jersey dress, Tibi confetti sequined silk dress and Adam folded-sequin silk-organza dress from www.shopstyle.com

Those Dreams Come True

I REMEMBER IT WELL. I came home from ballet and my dad had just gotten back from a shoot in Guam with a 3-foot box of Famous Amos and a VHS tape of Jiminy Cricket's Christmas.

I was about eight and my brother two. We watched the tape over and over and over again almost everyday for who knows how long. It was a good break from Batman Returns and Mary Poppins.

And it is a good memory for siblings all grown. Oh the nostalgia it brings to hear Jiminy Cricket sing again!

"From all of us, to all of you, Merry Christmas."

May all your dreams come true!

Walt Disney Presents Jiminy Cricket's Christmas, 1986.

Those Christmas Critters

WHAT I LOVED ABOUT THE HOLIDAYS, as they are officially over for me, was having had time at home to eat and hang and catch the pets at their most adorable.

Animals just have that uncanny way of constantly fascinating you with their quirks.

What I hated about the holidays was that on top of having to spend Christmas Eve in the E.R., and spending Christmas day sick in bed, I had to deal with things I shouldn't have had to deal with on Christmas day, or on any other day at that. Thanks to some very undesirable individuals.

But high fever, dehydration, nutrocite levels, coughing and undesirable individuals aside, it was all still a pretty lovely Christmas, shivering in bed and watching videos all day and night with Jaime and the pets. How many days a year can you do that?

The rest of the week to go until New Year's Eve and I only hope that my antibiotics start to work double time as I will no longer have home time to recuperate with a gallon of water, lozenges, Jaime or the stinkies by my side.

2010, please cooperate in ending this year sanely! And 2011, let's please not be a sickly one.

Kitty and Sunny at home, December 2010.

Those Sugar Cravings

THE MORE YOU EAT, THE MORE YOU CRAVE. But how do you get out of a rush and crash cycle with everyone serving, bringing, sharing or offering all sorts of sweets and treats?

Marian Bantjes finds a better use for the terribly unhealthy ingredient.

Things I have learned in my life so far in sugar by Marian Bantjes for Stefan Sagmeister, www.bantjes.com

That Christmas at Tiffany's

WITH HOLIDAY AD CAMPAIGNS always seeming to feature happy, festive individuals sharing warm and fuzzy moments together, you wonder if there are really people out there who spend the busy, bustling season this way. At least long before the actual Christmas day.

That's all!

Back to work/stuff/rushing/errands/practice/things to take care of.

December, please slow down!

Tiffany&Co. Holiday 2010 ads, images from rdujour.com

That Mid-week Powwow

WHEN WAS THIS AGAIN!? When Chin came back to Manila.

It was not so long ago at all but it definitely feels like it's been such a long time since with so much going on lately.

Looking forward to the next food and cackle fest!

Chin's welcome back dinner at Little Tokyo, December 1, 2010.

That Paper Cut Kingdom

IN FAUNA AND IN FLORA. In pop-up-book tediousness. In absolute amazingness.

Need I say more?

The Island of Dr. Mastrovito and Enciclopedia dei Fiori da Giardino by Andrea Mastrovito, www.andreamastrovito.com