Whatever happened to ICEE?

Now that summer’s come early to Manila (read: massive heat wave), I can’t help but scramble for cooling treats like ice cream, cold drinks, etc.  The other day, I waxed nostalgic remembering that cold slushy drink in a cup that predated the Slurpee called ICEE.  As a kid, I used to love going to the supermarket with my mom, knowing that I’d get myself a freezing cola or bright red cherry ICEE afterwards.  Anyone looking to bring in new products to the Philippines, bring back ICEE please! 

ICEE as I remember it

Apparently, the ICEE bear has gotten a makeover from being a bottom-heavy, goofy and loveable layabout (in the tradition of Shaggy from Scooby-doo)…

The good ol' ICEE bear just enjoyed dancing and drinking... ICEE!

… to a “too cool” ice-boarding, sunglass-wearing, “these are modern times so let’s get active” polar bear:

 

Check out the ICEE Company website for information and interesting fan photos like these ones:

Adorable fan photo

Strange fan photo

Apparently ICEE is today available in the US, Canada, Mexico, China and the Middle East.  What happened to the Phils?  We need you back, ICEE bear (goofy or jock version).  It’s hot here…

It’s a Hello Kitty world…

… we just live in it!

I love Japan and their whole appreciation for anything and everything “kawaii” (cuute).  It all started in the late ’70s when I was around 5 years old, and someone gave me some stationery (this was before e-mail) featuring a cat with her name spelled in fat letters – Hello Kitty.  Clean lines, no facial expressions or cartoon bubble talk, Kitty was just a cute little cat in overalls sporting a red ribbon.  Then along the way, something happened and Kitty exploded and became a multi-million dollar global phenomenon.  People like Paris Hilton took the humble cat from Japan and went insane with her.  Here are just a few of many great examples of where Kitty’s at today (many are from kittyhell.com) :

 

Ok, so I do think Hello Kitty fruit is super cute –

I would so buy these! Kawaii bananas at a Japanese supermarket

 

And I would totally buy this yogurt maker if I could find it –

Healthy, calcium-rich and Kitty-cute: what more could a girl ask for?

 

But I don’t think I’d want to be friends with the girl who decides to get married in this get-up–

Scarlett O'Hara meets Cinderella in Hello Kitty Hell

 

Nor would I like to see this in my bathroom…

I think my husband would leave me if I ever installed this

 

Though I may consider delivering  a baby here at the kawaii-cute Hello Kitty hospital in Taiwan–

How could you not love working here? Unless you were a man... who hated Hello Kitty

awwww

 

Then there are the more interesting Kitty items such as –

The Hello Kitty Rosary (for cute Catholics)

 

Conversely, there is the Hello Kitty burqa (for cute Muslims)

 

The Hello Kitty AK-47 …

This model proved unpopular with communist rebels...

 

The Hello Kitty-Louis Vuitton bong for cute, brand-conscious potheads…

 

We get to see Kitty’s super-cute internal organs through the Kitty meets Dr. Romanelli doll…

If only my heart and spleen were that adorable

 

And from the “I didn’t know there was a market for that” department…

Beck’s Hello Kitty Beer

Not a good thing to bring to a tailgate party

 

The equivalent of a huge “Kick Me” sign for any man…

It's the kitted-out Hello Kitty Ferrari

 

You know the universe is coming to an end when Darth Vader becomes a Kitty fan–

Scary Schoolgirl and Hello Darth make for a great disturbance in the Force

Mmmm… Bacon

Not this Bacon...

THIS bacon... Mmmm!

 

When you ask a Vegetarian which food item they were hard-pressed to give up, the anwer is usually… Bacon.  There are a few things in this world that can affect humans as much as the smell of sizzling… Bacon.  Maybe Calvin Klein should create ‘CK Bacon’ and unleash the feral side of any meat-eating woman on the unsuspecting cologne-wearer.  Anyway, I’m apparently not the only person who has a weakness for these strips of pork belly.  There are hundreds of Bacon tribute sites and fan pages online.  Predictably, a lot of strange bacon-related items have been cropping up.  So here’s how I picture a day in the life of a bacon-obsessed person…

 

Have a morning shower with a nice juicy bar of Bacon Soap

 

 

Sit down to breakfast with a morning-brightening Bacon Placemat

 

 

Mmm, is that coffee or bacon?  Brew a sizzling cup of Maple Bacon Morning coffee

 

 

Slap on that snazzy Bacon Suit that drives women (and hungry dogs) wild

 

 

If it’s cold, make like a bacon-wrapped weenie dog with the cozy Bacon Scarf

 

 

Don’t forget your Bacon Briefcase!

 

 

… And your Bacon Lunchbox!

 

 … And your Bacon Wallet!

 

 

Make sure all your files are in your trusty Bacon USB Flash Drive

 

 Get into your delicious-smelling car care of your Bacon Air Freshener

 

 

At the end of the day, kick back with a bottle of Squeez Bacon…

>yikes<

 

 

Wash it all down with your favorite diet soda…

 

 

And don’t forget to floss for that extra clean feeling 

 

 

Unwind and ponder the day with a Bacon Martini

 

Then sit back and welcome the heart attack.

Gitanes Cigarette Ads are beautiful

I don’t smoke, but I really enjoy going through vintage cigarette advertising.  A genre in itself, tobacco ads encompassed all design styles and ranged in subject matter from the scientific to the fashionable and iconic, and even to the bizarre…

Strange "Don't smoke & drive" (?) Russian Ad

 

But I love love classic French cigarette brand Gitanes‘ vintage ads.  The modern (now considered retro-modern) designs and bright, bold colors are just lovely.  And despite the eye-catching designs, the ads are very subtle – there are no cigarette health facts or hard-sell headlines.  Just simple, beautiful designs featuring a gypsy lady.  Here are some examples:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sweetie! Darling! I miss AbFab.

 

I really really miss the many mis-adventures of the forever bombed best friends, Patsy and Eddy.  I was such a fan while I was at university in the early ’90s that I actually planned my second year classes to all start at 11am so I could have my morning coffee watching Absolutely Fabulous on the A&E Channel.  Seriously.

 

The main cast (without Mother): Eddy, Saffy, Bubble & Patsy

 

Anyway, I recently read that this Fall, there will be a US version of AbFab executive produced by Jennifer Saunders (Eddy and AbFab’s creator) and overseen by the producer of Arrested Development (which I also loved).  Kristen Johnson of 3rd Rock from the Sun will play Patsy while an actress named Kathryn Hahn will play Eddy.  Despite the seemingly solid cast and production crew, I still wonder why there was a need to America-fy this classically neurotic, dysfunctional yet loveable British series.  I wish they could just show the original episodes in syndication. 

 

American Pats & Eddy : (

 

Oh well…  I’ll just have to comfort myself with my two videos purchased long ago.  Despite it being almost 20 years since the first season, this show is still timelessly hilarious.  I miss Patsy (played by Joanna Lumley), Eddy, Saffy, Bubble and Edwina’s Mother.  I’m chanting as we speak…

 

Classic wine-tasting episode:

Devilishly Divine Joan Crawford

“If I can’t be me, I don’t want to be anybody.”

 

Despite what Christina Crawford wrote in “Mommie Dearest”, how can you not love (or love to hate) Joan Crawford?  Now she was a total Hollywood diva.  After all the stories about her cattiness and nose in the air attidude, the wonderful thing is that she could back up all the airs with top-rate acting and screen presence.  From Grand Hotel to her later B-movie attempts, the camera adored her.  She even stood out as the hateful Crystal in the original (1939)The Women (one of my favorite movies).  And considering she was in that movie with greats like Rosalind Russel, Norma Shearer and Paulette Goddard, that’s saying a lot.  Here are more delicious quotable quotes from Christina’s Mommie (I didn’t include “No wire hangers!”):

“I, Joan Crawford, I believe in the dollar. Everything I earn, I spend.”

“Helga, I’m not mad at you.  I’m mad at the dirt.” (to her maid)

“If you want my opinion, far too many actresses today are little more than tramps and tarts.”

“We’re paid to turn shit into gold.” (on Hollywood)

“Women’s Lib?  Poor little things.  They always look so unhappy.  Have you noticed how bitter their faces are?”

 

Ok, so maybe she really was a scary mom...

 

But bitch-ay or not, you just gotta love her.  Unless you’re another Diva like Bette Davis (looove her) who reportedly couldn’t stand dearest Joan, and the feeling was mutual.  In several Bette biographies, there are just loads of gems about their ‘little’ feud…

 When asked why she avoided Joan at Hollywood functions, Bette stated:

“You hang around that woman long enough and you’ll pick up all kinds of useless shit.”

Love is in the air...

Sigh, these Divas, gotta love them.

Classic Joan photographed by Hollywood photog, Yousuf Karsh

The KISS family

After years of planning, we may finally go the KISS route this Halloween –

My husband can now look exactly like Gene because the ‘authentic’ Gene Simmons’ Demon outfit is now available to all… for USD 500!  Gene, gene, gene – such a businessman…

In our plans, my daughter is supposed to be Paul/Starchild (since no one else wants to be) but dressing up as mini-Gene is too adorable to pass up…

Or, she could come in the too CUTE Toddler Ace Frehley/Spaceman costume:

Hmm…even kids who dress like Paul Stanley/Starchild can’t help acting a little cheeseball:

I’ll obviously be Peter Criss/Catman, but I refuse to dress up in this creepy adult version (with thigh cut-outs)…

Whether we do this Halloween 2009 or not, we take comfort in knowing that EVERY family can now be a KISS family… “You wanted the best, You got the best!”  Woo hoo!

Goodbye John Hughes

“Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.”

- Ferris Bueller from Ferris Bueller’s Day off

 

John Hughes, writer-director of ’80s classics like Sixteen Candles, Pretty in Pink, The Breakfast Club and Ferris Bueller’s Day Off died at the age of 59 on Thursday, August 6th.  There have been a lot of unexpected and sad deaths of famous people this year, but John Hughes was different in that he wasn’t a global superstar like Michael Jackson, but his death made me feel like I’ve lost a cool friend from my youth.  Hughes’ films may have seemed like silly teenage comedies to some, but I feel that they were actually smart and accurate representations of my generation.   If you belong to Generation X (hello Douglas Coupland), you can joyously quote a line from at least one John Hughes film. 

So today as a tribute to the man… It’s an 80s Hughes flashback! 

Sixteen Candles – my first favorite ‘teen’ film. 

 

It's Long Duk Dong!

Sigh, the final scene with Samantha and Jake… and the cake 

 

 

Some Kind of Wonderful

 

The Breakfast Club

 

Pretty In Pink

 

Weird Science

 

It's Chet! Hilariously played by Bill Paxton

 

Ferris Bueller’s Day Off

 

So to you, John Hughes, thanks for the memories…

“I can’t believe I gave my panties to a geek…”

- Samantha Baker from Sixteen Candles

My favorite classic leading men…

 I just felt like swooning over black and white photos of beautiful classic leading men this morning.  Perhaps I’m also swooning because my neighbor is currently fogging his yard with clouds of anti-mosquito poison…

Anyway, watching old Hollywood movies wasn’t easy as a child in the Philippines – if you wanted to see an American black and white film, you had to rent a video.  From a young age, I listened to my dad talk about these Hollywood greats and learned to love the movies, the glamor and the actors.  As much as I love Brad Pitt, Hugh Jackman and Russell Crowe, it seems like no one can hold a candle these days to the super actors of yesteryear.  These photos below show how timelessly gorgeous they still are. 

Loved him in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Cool Hand Luke and Butch Cassidy…

Woo hoo, Paul Newman

 

My mom’s ultimate favorite (along with Alain Delon) and star of the tragic A Place in the Sun…

Gorgeous Montgomery Clift

 

In this photo, he’s playing Jett Rink, my favorite character in Giant…

Swoon, James Dean

 

Super talented anti-hero star of Cape Fear and Night of the Hunter…

Robert Mitchum : )

 

My mother’s faaavorite actor, and beautiful Frenchman…

Alain Delon

 

Gorgeous and still really active today…

Before his spaghetti western days... Clint Eastwood

 

Channeling Hugh Jackman, another photo of Clint Eastwood…

Sigh

Sound of Music – a ‘where are they now?’ special

I love this movie

 So last night I saw “The Sound of Music” for the first time with my 3 year old daughter.  It was another ‘maman moment’ as I realized I finally had a daughter to share this lovely film with, much like my mother did with me ages ago (boo hoo, tears of happiness).  Anyway, at 3, she was a little bored with all the ‘talking parts’, so we just forwarded to all the songs.  She especially loved watching the kids, especially little Gretl. 

It got me thinking… Where are the actors who played the Von Trapp children today?   Then I remembered that a few months ago, my friend Lara sent me an email with these photos (below).  Enjoy!  And I only have these comments:  What happened to Kurt and Liesl?! and wow, Gretl aged really well.

 

 

Classic pulp fiction covers…in Spanish

You can really find art in the least likely of places.  Take pulp fiction covers from the 1950s-70s.  These were the cheap paperbacks that titillated a mostly male crowd of low-brow readers.  Despite their possible not-award-winning content, I think pulp fiction covers are just great.  What makes this collection below even more awesome is the fact that the titles are en espanol!  It just adds another dimension to the super-badness of it all. 

 

The series for baad boys…

Never give a 'chica' on 'drogas' a weapon...

 

 

 Ayayay!  El Robot!

 

 

The sleazier James Bond…Senor Suave, Extraordinario FBI!

Watch as he suavely uses his girlfriend as a human shield...

 

 

Secret Service guys always get the chicks…”Just leave me alone already!”

"Vete ya! Wait... are you wearing two panties?"

 

 

Even the “King & I” looks sleazy when given the pulp fiction treatment…

Deborah Kerr smiles, but her eyes say "H.E.L.P.!"

 

 

Why we should never give weapons to mermaids…

"I'm gonna have me some fisherman stew for dinner!"

 

 

I seriously love this gorgeous cover…  note “la muerte” ghost hand in the corner

 

 

Believe it or not, this woman is a ‘good guy’…

I don't want to 'fly' with Cherry. I think she's going to rehab : (

 

 

I wonder what the “Fatal Gems” in the title is referring to (wink wink nudge nudge)…

Sexy spies always sleep with Ak-47s... topless

 

Find more Spanish Book Covers HERE

Pre-war Manila was so beautiful

I love looking at old photos.  Black and white photographs always evoke a sense of nostalgia in me, even if they’re of a history I wasn’t a part of.  Looking at old photos of Manila is especially interesting because the images capture a world that really seems forever lost to time.  As our grandparents’ and their friends’ stories go, these were the days when people shopped on Escolta wearing smart hats and white suits, when weekends were spent swimming and picnicking on the banks of the Pasig River, and when you got dressed to enjoy a night out at the Jai Alai Building’s Sky Room. 

To give a better sense of what pre-war Manila was like, I’m posting old photos of the Philippines that I found in the LIFE Magazine Photo Archives.   This amazing set of photographs was taken in November 1941 Manila, the week before the outbreak of war with Japan.  The days of calm before the storm…

 

The beautiful Jai Alai building, designed by Welton Becket, who also did the iconic Capitol Records Tower in LA:

The Welton Becket-designed art deco Jai Alai Building

 

 Watching a game of Jai-Alai:

 

The main commercial district, Escolta:

When men wore white suits...

 

Inside a Manila Department Store:

Taken in late November a week before Pearl Harbor, stores were ready to celebrate Christmas.

 

View of the busy Sta. Cruz Plaza, Manila:

 

Japanese businesses still open:

 

The Manila City Hall and its manicured courtyard:

 

Shopping at stalls near the Quiapo Church:

We loved tiangges even back then...

 

Lovely interiors of the Quiapo Church:

 

Having lunch at the Manila Polo Club:

 

Getting ready to watch a baseball game, Manila Polo Club:

 

View of the clean, art-deco Quezon Bridge:

Note that we used to drive on the left side of the street

 

When men used to wear hats… a second-hand hat stall off Carriedo St.:

 

Manila Hotel swimming pool:

 

Ready for what’s coming- the popularity contest winner of the Manila College of Pharmacy smiles and shows her support for the boys:

Where did Clairol Herbal Essence go?

 

I loved the long-haired ‘nature lady’ who used to grace the label of this shampoo.  She used to bathe in a forest and birds and butterflies would happily hover over her.  Clairol Herbal Essence came in a cool bottle, was a beautiful deep aloe green and most importantly, smelled so herbal essence good.  I found an old ad (above) and was surprised to also find an on-line petition demanding the return of Herbal Essence.  I wonder if the “Gee Your Hair Smells Teriffic” fans have the same passion.  These ’70s women are loyal! 

Speaking of Gee Your Hair Smells Teriffic, here’s something from the “You learn something new every day” department:  Did you know that after Jergens stopped making the popular shampoo in the US, that the only place it was available in the entire world was the Philippines?  According to this site:

By the mid-1980’s the products disappeared from [US] store shelves.  Jergens had discontinued manufacturing the product.  After that, the only place in the world where the items were still available was in the Philippines!  Jergens had licensed the product to a manufacturer in the Philippines, and up until today the product has remained available for purchase there!

Well… lucky us! 

"Gee, you look like my mom"

Mmmm… Tiffin lunches are wonderful

Tiffin lunch = MMmmm!

 

Last night, I watched as Padma Lakshmi (star of Top Chef and Carl’s Jr.’s recent ad) explained the virtues of the tiffin trade in India on Discovery Travel & Living.  Mumbai is apparently the only city in the word where home-cooked food is delivered by the dabbawala or Tiffin Man to working people all over the city.  Basically, your mom or wife cooks your food, the Tiffin Man picks it up around 9-10am, then through a complicated series of train/cart transfers, your tiffin gets to you, filled with hot steaming rotis, curries, meats and a sweet treat at lunchtime.  Amazing!

 

Dabbawallas deliver non-labeled tiffins directly to you

 

It just makes no sense to bring your lunch with you in the mornings as this system of over 5,000 Tiffin Men delivering to over 200,000 working people has been in place forever!  Plus, the dabbawallas, lowly educated Indians from the Pune region, have built their lives around this trade. It’s such an amazing system that you can easily find diagrams and flowcharts online explaining its intricacies.  Click HERE for more on the tiffin trade.

Here’s a popular tiffin recipe for Coconut Chicken.  Mmmm….

 

 

1. Cut 2-3 boneless, skinless chicken breasts into bite-sized pieces.  Fry them in oil. 
2. Add 1 thinly sliced carrot, 1/2 cup sweet peas, 1 chopped green onion, 1 tablespoon curry powder, salt and pepper to the chicken.  Cook for 5 minutes.
3. Combine 1 can of coconut milk to the mixture and mix well.  Cook for 10 to 15 minutes more. 
4. Pack into your son’s/boyfriend’s/husband’s waiting tiffin and if you don’t live in Mumbai, just look at it until he comes home…

The latest in children’s fashion… ZZ Top??

What a GREAT tribute to ZZ Top from Diesel, taken at this year’s Pitti Immagine Bimbo fashion show in Florence.  I hope they played ”Sharp-dressed Man” when these kids walked the runway (see below).

With my husband in a mullet, wayfarers, and a mustache as Frank Beard, and with two furry guitars for the kids, this would also make the perfect Halloween group costume! 

Speaking of “Sharp Dressed Man”, here’s the video from 1983 (a GREAT year in music videos if you ask me).  You just have to say “Whee-heeew!”  I love these classic videos with loose women, that car, and the hilarious makeover storylines (I miss Legs!)…   Update: ugh, they just took the classic video off Youtube! Here’s a live version instead.   Bummer, I love that ’83 video.

The best Action Figures you can buy today

We all have our favorite action figures from childhood — my brothers recently passed their Star Wars collection on to my eager and grateful son, and my husband had Spiderman and Madelman (“you know, the Spanish GI Joe?” ) figures.

 

Vintage 'Madelman in Kenya' - what's with the white purse?

 

Below are MY current favorite action figures.  I hope someone gets me one or two for Christmas…

 

Crazy Cat-lady: comes with 6 cats and a wild look in her eye

 

 

Obsessive Compulsive Man:  

Comes with worried look, surgical mask and a moist towelette

 

 

Angry Mob: Villagers with ’mad’ faces and various weapons

 

 

Marie Antoinette: Her wig, dress and head are all removable

 

 

Mr. Bacon vs. Monsieur Tofu: whichever side you’re on, it’s an epic battle

When did Tofu become french? (love the monocle!)

 

 

Zombie Pet Shop figures: Scary, undead pets for playtime

 

 

Avenging Unicorn Playset: comes with 3 problem people (Bad Boss, New Age lady, Mime) and 4 interchangeable horns for unicorn to skewer them with

I guess unicorns don't like mimes : (

Propaganda posters are so cool

American WW2 Poster

No matter what the ideology, I love the passion put into propaganda posters.  I really like the mid-century period of propaganda design, and the clear winner in my books is… the Soviet Union!  Their posters are really design-forward.  Here are more examples of  posters from different WW2 participants.  You can really spot the differences in message and design among the countries… 

USSR: Great design, no smiles

Lenin with Dirigibles

Russian Air Force

GREAT Poster:  Urging men to sign up to work in the Urals (1924)

Party Posters

 

England:  Let’s go, boys!

 

We all love each other!

 

 German Propaganda:  Aryan…

 

Italian Fascist Poster:  classic

 

American Propaganda:  Pride and Emotion

Woo hoo, let's join the Navy!

Aww, a Norman Rockwell poster!

 

Philippine Propaganda:  Great, and heavily influenced by US Propaganda

The flag is upside-down symbolizing the Philippines is at war

Check out Vintage Fruit Crate Labels HERE

Goodbye Michael and Farrah

The world is abuzz today about the sad, untimely deaths of Michael Jackson and Farrah Fawcett.  As tribute to the two 1970s icons (and beyond for MJ), I thought to post videos from each star in their heyday. 

Yesterday, I posted the Jackson 5′s “Enjoy Yourself”, but I decided to replace that video with my all-time favorite MJ song, “Billie Jean“.  Listening to Billie Jean and watching this video (the original isn’t available on YouTube due to ‘country restrictions’) really brings me back to my early ’80s childhood.  Great memories!  For whatever he did or became, it’s wonderful gifts like his music and showmanship that will hopefully live on in our minds forever.  Thanks, Michael!

I also HAVE to post “Ben”, which I really loved as a little girl.  I had no idea at the time that it was about a rat.  (How ironic is that.)  It’s also telling of what his childhood was like, having composed at such a young age this beautiful and heartfelt song about his friendship with his pet rat.  It’s my second favorite MJ song and really takes me back…

I was obsessed with Charlie’s Angels as a child.  Of course, the show’s adult innuendoes were lost on me as I just watched for the action and cool hair.  Contrary to what boring critics say, I thought this show did a lot for little girls like me who thought for the first time that we could kick boys’ asses.  We’ll miss you, Farrah! 

What I’m reading now…

I’m outing my mom here but she used to buy Royalty and Majesty magazines regularly up until Diana died.  A few months after Princess Di’s passing, I asked my mom where her new stash of royal magazines were and she replied, “I no longer need those magazines.  Who am I going to look at?  Camilla?? (said through gritted teeth)”   And so since then, I’ve been giving my mom Diana biographies every other Mother’s Day (with maybe a Kennedy or Jackie O. book thrown in).  I’m currently reading a brilliant book that was kindly loaned to me by a friend… The Diana Chronicles by Tina Brown.   I’m only halfway through but it’s a doozy!  I’ve known of Tina Brown since her days in Vanity Fair and she writes so well - a little snide comments here and there and yet quite profound observations.  I (and my mom) will miss Diana all over again.  Anyone heading for a vacation?  Take this book with you.

 

I’m also reading Anne de Courcy’s 1939: The Last Season as it’s in line with my love for anything from the Golden Age (20s til before WW2).  I just finished The Viceroy’s Daughters and quite enjoyed that, so will move on to this one.   It’s just hard to get to because Diana’s book landed in my lap and I haven’t put it down since. 

The next book I plan to read is a toss up between:

and

Just kidding : )  Really, I am.  Really.

My ‘Paris Cuisine’ Cookbook – oui! oui!

I collect vintage cookbooks and children’s books.  I purchased many books from the antiquarian bookstores at the top of Dunbar St. and all over the Downtown area when I used to live in Vancouver.  Paris Cuisine by James Beard and Alexander Watt is one of my favorites.  It wasn’t just a cookbook, it documented the best restaurants in Paris in the early ’50s.  This book has gorgeous descriptions of the restaurant plus recipes shared by the chefs.  Priceless : )

Maxim's!

Clique clique ici! Click on photo to read : )

La Tour d'Argent - page 2 (click on photo to read)

Mmmm.... une recette de Crepes Suzette! Formidable! ; )

Choose Sunflower Mayonnaise

I was so happy to see sunflower mayo finally available at the supermarket!  It’s under the Belle France brand and is very affordable – I think it was only P70 for the small bottle.   Just look for the word ”Tournesol” (sunflower) on the label.  I’m not really a mayonnaise fan, but if I did have to use mayo for tuna salad, I’m glad I can finally buy a good one here.

Sunflower oil: 

• Has no cholesterol
• Is high in Vitamin E (which has antioxidant properties) 
• Is low in saturated fat
• Is known for its clean taste

Belle France seems to be a high-quality generic brand from France, kind of like President’s Choice products from Canada.  Belle France products are available at Rustan’s and Shopwise.  It’s great seeing affordable packs of gauffrettes, bottles of cornichons, tubs of sorbet and many other yummy items available to choose from.  My kids love bringing packets of the mini chocolate biscuits to school and having the frozen cordon bleus for snack time.  High carbon footprint concerns aside, I still think Manila needs more products like these : )

Great Early Philippine Political Cartoons…

The book ”Philippine Cartoons – Political Caricatures of the American Era 1900-1941″ by Alfred McCoy and Alfredo Roces is a treasure trove of information on how things used to be.   Aside from the cartoons featuring the Manila Carnival, and the one about the passing of an ordinance in 1930 to get live pigs off the streets (!), I love these that depict public outrage at UP following the American example and allowing coeducation.  We’ve come a long way!

Wild kids dating and going to the movies

Coeducation = going to Pasay together... at 2pm!

I love vintage Sesame Street

My brother in law in Australia gave us “Sesame Street Old School – 1969-1974″ for Christmas last year.  Sesame Street was such a big part of my childhood that the episodes brought back so many nice memories.  

“Two Little Dolls” was one of my favorites and the reason I had a huge dollhouse obsession as a child. My 3-year old loves watching this – she especially loves when the cats ransack the home.  The song is soothingly folksy-1970s (like Beavis & Butthead’s hippie teacher’s ‘Lesbian Seagull’).  A classic!

This is something that’ll stay with me forever.  Whenever I make my grocery list, I’m tempted to include: “a loaf of bread, a container of milk, and a stick of butta…”

Good salad vs. bad salad

I love love any Asian salad, with Vietnamese or Thai versions being my favorites.  But when it’s summer, I always look for a good, simple Mediterranean salad.  I usually go for Greek, but I found this great recipe for a Caprese one:

1. Drain 1 large can of black olives.  Cut the olives in half.  Cut 3 cups of cherry tomatoes in half as well. Put the olive and tomato halves in a bowl.
2. Cut up about 1 cup of good mozzarella and add this to the bowl as well.
3. Chop or tear 1/2 cup of fresh basil leaves and mix into a 1/2 cup of an olive oil and balsamic vinegar dressing.
4. Combine dressing with tomato mixture, salt and pepper and serve.  Mmmm…

From the Bad Salad department… I got this Jello ad from a vintage ad blog years ago.  It was labeled by the blog owner as “Satan’s salad” : (   Maybe because it looks like there are body parts trapped in it…

Not to be outdone is our local mayo brand, Lady’s Choice, which actually thought this ad would make me want to buy mayonnaise.  I wonder how much mayo (or cement) she had to add to her macaroni salad to make it stand like that.

3 great Filipino children’s books

I think I’ve given one or all of these books to all the Filipino (and sometimes non-Filipino) families I know who live abroad.   I’ve seriously bought at least 5 copies of each one.  They’re the best pasalubong since they’re very representative of the Philippines and yet they’re easy to travel with – skinny and light!

 

Bahay Kubo with artwork by Hermes Alegre

I love the folk-art quality of the pictures in this book.  Each page features a line from the classic song, Bahay Kubo.  The book is about a family that lives in a nipa hut situated next to their little vegetable farm.

Hermes Alegre no longer paints in this folk-art style so I think having this book as a part of your kids’ collection is a definite must.

 

 

 

 

Haluhalo Espesyal by Yvette Fernandez-Ferreol

Celebrating family, food and being Filipino, Haluhalo Espesyal’s simple story touches on the special relationship kids have with their grandparents, and on the enduring qualities of love.  I’m gushing, but please buy 1,2, 3 copies!  There’s also a nice recipe on the last page for… HaluHalo! : )

 

 

 

 

 

The Mats by Francisco Arcellana, artwork by Hermes Alegre

A very Filipino story about familial love.  The mats here are used to symbolize a father’s love for his children.  The story isn’t exactly for young kids, but children (and I’m told even my baby niece) love the colorful pictures, wonderfully done by Hermes Alegre.

The Kiwi is a wondrous wonder fruit

The Kiwi has recently made it back on Philippine supermarket shelves but since they look a bit alien to people here, haven’t been selling too well.  I bought some on sale at Shopwise the other day  - 6 kiwis for P75!  I’m worried they’ll be yanked soon if no one buys them.  They’re so good that my kids have gotten over the fuzzy brown skin and spotty green pulp to actually eat and enjoy them.

Plus, I read in the paper today that 1 Kiwi:

• Contains as much potassium as a banana
• Has the same amount of Vitamin E found in 3 apples
• Contains twice the amount of Vitamin C found in an orange
• Is high in Folate
• Is naturally high in anti-oxidants
• Is a good source of dietary fiber

It also has a low glycemic index.  So go, go buy some Kiwis now!  Then celebrate by making this Kiwi Bellini…

Kiwifruit Bellini c/o ZESPRI GOLD

1. Puree 2 peeled Kiwis, 1 teaspoon caster sugar, 2 teaspoons Cointreau in a blender on gentle speed (you don’t want to crush the seeds).  Pass through a fine sieve to remove the seeds. Then spoon the puree into 4 champagne flutes.
2. Pour 2 tablespoons chilled prosecco (or similar sparkling wine) and gently stir to combine, then gently pour on more prosecco to fill each glass.  Serve. Mmmmm….

Vintage fruit crate labels are beautiful

 

I think the designs and prints from the early 20th century are just wonderful.  Here are some great vintage fruit crate labels (yes, they bothered to make art for the lowly produce crate). Most of the labels are produced in Spain, home of the Valencia orange.  Though I consider most of them beautiful works of pop art, some are a bit strange…

From back when Disney wasn’t suing everyone:

Gorgeous Art Deco print with snooty, tennis-playing rich people and gypsy girl:

Beautiful flirty women:

The simple yet honorable housewife:

 …and her able assistant:

 Great Pop Art:

Bad stereotype from the US (Texas!):

Strange brand featuring kids and the devil:

So un-PC in so many ways:

I’m guessing the ‘Bu’ would be Budapest? London, Paris…Budapest?

 

The Fountain of Youth was really orange juice:

Pin-up Vargas girls make it onto the fruit crates:

Dancing the night away on an orange half, Fred & Ginger Valencia-style:

I want a Lemon Drop on the Rocks

Ice cold, delicious Lemon Drop

This is a recommended summer drink from marthastewart.com.  It’s delicious and just as good as it looks in the photo.  I really like sweet-tarty things so this is the perfect sunny afternoon drink for me (too bad it’s been cold and rainy).  The recipe is so so easy:

1. Combine 3 cups of vodka, 2-1/4 cups fresh lemon juice (from 10-12 lemons), and 1/2 cup plus 3 tablespoons superfine sugar.
2. Transfer to an ice-filled pitcher, add lemon slices and serve. 

Yumm!

For Dad…

Men are notoriously difficult to shop for.  It’s usually perfume, gadgets or a leather wallet or satchel.  I find that our Tabaqueria de Filipinas personalized narra wood boxes or humidors are very unique and yet affordable presents.  Thing is, you can’t give one every year!  But if you don’t have one yet, check www.tabaqueria.com.

I found this candle on Jamie Oliver’s site and wish I could purchase it for Tirso.  He’d love it so  : )

Tobacco & Thyme scented candle

The Best Children’s Shows Today

Despite shows like “My gym partner’s a monkey” (strange and lots of monkey butt shots) and “Courage the Cowardly Dog” (disturbing), there’s still hope for children’s television. I really miss old-school Sesame Street, which just doesn’t seem to cut it with kids these days.  I love the following shows because they’re smart, impart great lessons and are just super-cool to watch:

Pocoyo and friends

1. POCOYO

Pocoyo is a smartly-written, funny and visually adorable show about a cute and often naughty little boy called Pocoyo (‘a little me’ in Spanish).  The English version is especially wonderful as it’s narrated by the brilliant British comedian, Stephen Fry.

 

 

 

Little Einsteins

 2.   Little Einsteins

 Annie, Quincy, June, Leo and their ship, Rocket, go on adventures to places like ancient Egypt and Antarctica.  Each show features a piece of classical music along with its composer.  As a result, my 3-year old often hums Mozart’s ‘Eine Kleine Nachtmusic’ and pieces like ‘Flight of the Bumblebee’.  She also was able to identify the Sphinx and the great pyramids.  I was impressed!  This show is fun to watch and really educational.

 

Charlie & Lola

3.  Charlie and Lola

An ever so adorable British show featuring the best brother and sister relationship I’ve ever seen.  I love watching this show with my kids and hope that it inspires them to be nicer to each other.  I actually say, “Would Charlie & Lola do that?” when the kids are ‘not very nice’ to each other (which is often) : /  Lovely stories, clever art direction and the best lines.  5 stars!

Meatless Mondays are a good thing

 

Mary, Paul and Stella McCartney

I read in the paper today that Paul McCartney and his daughters, Stella and Mary, have joined the “Meat Free Monday” movement.  I love this idea that each household can reduce water consumption and cut carbon/methane emissions just by cutting out meat once a week.  Plus, reducing your meat intake is really good for your health (though the Spanish may not agree ; ) .  Let’s go veggie every Monday!