27th Birthday Week (part 4)

Had a party at Jewel Piccadilly as recommended by a friend. I was a bit reluctant because Jewel was a bit too glam and 'young' for my liking. I'm not particularly fussed about glitzy things and I wanted to do it somewhere a bit more alternative but I was running out of time so I just agreed. In fairness, it's part of the Late Night London group which is always reliable for party packages and then some. Plus I figured the guests would like it too.

I was hoping our VIP area would either be in Bar Blanca (beachy) or Ruby Room (Buddha inspired) but they gave us three tables in the main bar. It was actually quite pretty with heaps of chandeliers lighting up the place (dimly). We had bubbly to start and some food platters to share. The cocktails could have done a bit more perfecting; I've had better cocktails elsewhere.

Jewel :: 4-6 Glasshouse Street, London W1B 5DQ | 020 7478 0780 | events@jewelpiccadilly.co.uk

As all parties go, it's the people you're with that matters because they're the ones who make it fun! And it was really quite a fun night because my guests were really amazeballs =)

J&J. Bourne and Bell, not Bond

Couples!
E&M // D&P (getting married next year, wooo!) // C&B

JBell & I - yun na yun e.
We look super tanned! And no, this was not photoshopped!

Filos represent! M and K

MY TUNNEY!

The 'confused foreigners'

G!!! =)

P L C

My housemate L!

With J, B, C & S!

(TO BE CONTINUED)

Mixed Tape Series: Emma's Imagination - This Day

I've got the feeling of that first strech in the morning going on 

BBM Sessions: LDN-VIE

 So how's your day going?

Amazing. It's been... like that line from that movie... surreal but nice. And yours?

The usual. Grey clouds on a spring day, lotsa stuff going on at work, heaps of domestic stuff like washing up and ironing to do. Busy busy, but hey... I love today. How's you? Europe treating you well so far?

Europe is amazing. I'll send you a picture look: Happiness is Pinoy food in Europe with a view!Hey can I update this on Facebook with the 'happiness' caption? May copyright ka kasi sa happiness caption.
 

I don't have copyright for the 'happiness' caption! On the contrary I'm trying to spread happiness around :P
 

Got my halo swinging on my finger for frisbee with the sun

Where did you get the idea for that? The happiness: etc. Genuinely cool.:)

It was the whole little miss sunshine thing. At some point my friends were a bit depressed and I was getting depressed because of their depression. So I wanted a happiness project haha! So they'll remember the little things.

Nice. I think the coolest thing about the reason was that it was to make others happy, which ultimately is what will make you happy.

But everyone deserves to be happy. And at that, come visit me when you have time. We need to get kicked out of restaurants again. =)

This day is mine 

And I want to share it, want to share it

I want to share it with you


Find someone who can make you happy. Good luck, be happy.

Mixed Tape Series: New Radicals - Someday We'll Know

I'm speeding by the place that I met you for the 97th time tonight
AS Steps, UP Diliman
08 September 2006

"Oh but there's no 'us' naman kasi. We're still friends, and I think we're always going to be friends," I tell a close mate. It was my last night in Manila and we were waiting for my driver to pick us up for the family dinner. We were kinda waiting for you as well but he said he wasn't sure you were coming.

The previous night was a bit... strange. You said you were hurt when I told you we should stop dating altogether and just stay as we've always been. You wanted so much more than being best friends. You wanted to try to make it work even when I'm far away. But you, of all people, knew and understood how much I needed to leave. How much I've given my heart away and that flying off to England was the right thing to do. For me, this time.

Believe it or not, everything you wanted was what I wanted in the long run, too. Except we weren't kids anymore and there was a need to be responsible and practical. A long distance relationship would have messed with our heads, and with personalities like yours and mine it's definitely best to stay out of it. We've effortlessly invested so much into this friendship and I couldn't bear risking it for the sake of something so complicated.

I didn't get to see you nor hear from you that night. You missed out on really good sushi.

I bought a ticket to the end of the rainbow.
Ninoy Aguino International Airport Gate 5
09 September 2006

My phone burst with well wishes from everyone else but you. I laughed loudly about the idea of you breaching airport security, running to give me a warm goodbye hug. Haha. Who was I kidding? You were never the big gesture kind of dude. But you were my best friend and you knew every detail of my flight. Surely you'd have the heart.

Much to the annoyance of flight attendants I kept my phone on all the time - before takeoff, during takeoff, until the last bar of reception was replaced by SOS and Manila felt but a little island away. I had nothing from you, yet my head had nothing but you.

I looked at one of our silly photos from summer. And I knew in my heart that we're going to be fine. We're always fine anyway.

Someday we'll know why I wasn't meant for you

Versace for H&M;

Dear Donatella Versace,

I have always admired your passion for everything bold and colourful (with the exception of your fierce loyalty to orange skin). That said, I have picked my favourites from the collaboration with H&M and I have to admit I am absolutely drawn to your simpler pieces. Possibly because I think playing with really bold prints can be tricky, especially your tropicana trousers - I don't really want to risk having leaves spread across my crotch. However, I do think the pieces below are super stunning and I can't can't wait to see them in real life. 

With love,

The girl next shore

PS - Sadly, I am not as tanned as I was a few years ago. You're still 5 levels up from me.

Versace for H&M in stores from 17th November 2011.

Click here to view the full range.

Mixed Tape series: Jim Salinger - Awoken

At last I’ve let my sweet revelry break out of this sad shell

Thank you. One of the things you made me see is that in some strange way, all oddities and quirks and corny bits included, I am actually special and I am actually worthy. No, I may not be the best girl out there for you... maybe not now, maybe not yet, or perhaps never... but now I know I can be will be the best girl for someone who will deserve all of me. I don't think I could've believed in me the way you have. So thank you for making me see.

At all cost I try to hold on to the strength you’ve given me

Thank you. For giving me the chance to help you out, and for making me think. I think you've given me a certain kind of boost, a certain kind of inspiration that I genuinely needed to have and to feel. It was one of those phases in life when you question your ability and realise that you could be so much more.

At times my chances of love still glances and cries with every memory

Thank you. For the memories. It's been a few amazing seasons bouncing off the sort of energy you brought about. I meant everything I said. You were a great reason to smile, even on my deepest darkest days. To this date your memory and our memories still make me feel happy and nostalgic. But not in the bittersweet kind of way we used to joke about. It's a genuine kind of happy you can only get from something or someone that was meant to be there - smack in the right place, at the right time.

At most I’m learning how to love without breaking my heart in two

I'm still scared of a lot of things. But not as much as I was before. I think getting your heart broken is a beautiful thing because the process of putting back the pieces together is amazing. I met you during that time, didn't I?

And with that, I end this with a line from one of my favourite guilty pleasures ;)

“Siguro kaya tayo iniiwanan ng mga mahal natin dahil may darating pang ibang mas magmamahal sa atin… yung hindi tayo sasaktan at paasahin… yung magtatama ng lahat ng mali sa buhay natin…”


27 before 27 blog countdown: 1 more to go!

RIP Steve Jobs

I was thinking about Steve Jobs a few weeks ago, when a mate and I spoke about the launch of the new iPhone. We were talking contracts and PAYG rates. And then we talked about Steve's recent resignation.

I have always said if there ever came a day when I could no longer meet my duties and expectations as Apple’s CEO, I would be the first to let you know. Unfortunately, that day has come

And then I showed him Steve's commencement speech in Stanford years ago (which he says he's never heard of!). We watched it thrice and I think my mate was blown away forever.

He had a way with words - he's been know to state things matter-of-factly. the hidden obvious points, the simplest things and the most honest truths. When you look at the facts - yes he was a visionary, yes he was a Valley institution, yes was a financial figure. But strip it down to the most obvious point, the simplest, the most honest truth - he was a guy with a job he enjoyed and a family he loved.

His passion was purely inspirational. Unlike most of us who dread getting older for fear of settling, he was excited of things to come because he believed in the future and pushed us all to be innovative. To be inventive. To think outside the box.

It doesn't matter whether you've never owned an Apple product, never seen a Pixar film. Doesn't matter whether you're loyal to RIM/Windows/Samsung. The world is in mourning - we've lost a truly great person today.

I saw this on someone's wall today and it's so apt:

The world's greatest apples that changed history forever: Adam & Eve's apple, Isaac Newton's apple, and Steve Jobs' apple. 

Thank you Steve. For everything and more, we'll stay hungry. And foolish.

27 before 27 blog countdown: 2 more to go!

fancy a film?

I've been catching up on old films I've always wanted to see but never had the time for. I found this really cool website that streams thousands of feature films, documentaries and TV shows. When the day is done and I want to unwind, I tend to just switch on my laptop and watch. Easy.

Three movies I've managed to see (and liked a lot) recently.

1. Loose Canons

Tomasso's conservative family owns a pasta business and they pretty much want him and his brother Antonio to take charge. However, his heart is set to do something else. At the turnover dinner, Antonio drops a bombshell leaving everything in shambles and Tomasso no other choice but to stay. He struggles to find the balance between keeping his family happy and setting himself free.

You'll love this if you love your family, imperfections and all. Watch out for the beach scene.

2. Love and Other Disasters
Jacks is one of those quirky girls who is adored by her friends because she adores her friends. She focuses on making their (love)lives better that she tends to overlook her own. The movie evolves around different personalities you'll find in the capital - from gay lovers to artists to Chelsea aristocrats to foreigners - but it makes you realise how we're all more alike than we are unalike.
You'll love this if you love London, British romcoms and Brittany Murphy. Watch out for the dance scene.

3. Trust
In this day and age of social media, it’s so easy to befriend other people who may have completely different identities. And so unsafe. David Schwimmer (aka Ross from friends) directs his second feature film which is totally the opposite side of Run Fatboy Run. With a cast including Clive Owen, Catherine Keener and the brill Liana Liberato as the confused teenage Annie, this movie takes a moving Hollywood spin on Catfish.
Watch if you want to see a darker side of Ross, and if you want to try to understand teenagers. Watch out for the last few minutes.

What films have you seen and liked lately? =)


27 before 27 blog countdown: 5 more to go!