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! 

A belated Father’s Day post

“Dad, I still remember it like it was yesterday.  You in your sky-blue briefs helping me into my white party dress…”

Maybe you have to be French, and maybe I grew up in a conservative family but am I glad I don’t have a photo of this “daddy & me” moment.  

But this ad did remind me that I do have a lot of great memories of my dad, much like my kids, who are now making their own special memories with their dad.  Simple activities like making pancakes on Saturday mornings, watching old movies over pizza, and taking long bike rides with him are moments children keep in their hearts forever.  So to all the great dads out there, whether they like to walk around in underwear or not…  belated Happy Father’s Day !

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.

1974: The year European design took a holiday

The following photos are breathtaking, but not in the way you’d think.  The site Eurobad.com collected the best of bad European design from 1974.  It’s really quite… stunning!

For people who like to match their living rooms

 

WOW. Orange-green bathroom with brown wall-to-wall carpeting

The green 'built-in' rugs are a nice touch

 

The “I can’t believe they hired a designer for this room” room

Sad-chic with scary doll and women's-prison beddings : (

 

 Client’s brief:  Use whatever you need to make it an authentic country kitchen!

Every kitchen needs a stable

 

 The ultimate in shag chic

So.... sensual

 

Client’s brief:  Just make sure the kitchen matches my car!

The kitchen for a fast couple - love the booze by the garage!

 

 Proof that bad design causes deviant behavior

So many things wrong with this photo, I don't know where to start...

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 : )

These ads are creepy

These kids look strange and so does the food they’re endorsing.  I guess there were no food stylists yet in the 1950s.  This ‘bad seed’ blonde girl looks like she’s eating a raw meat sandwich…  Scary!

Mmmm!

Enjoying worm-ghetti

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.

Stop acronym abuse in the Philippines

Possible foreign mice buyer

“RP to host foreign MICE buyers”

What?!  Of course, upon further reading of the article in the paper this morning, it becomes clear-  MICE stands for ‘Meetings, Incentives, Conventions & Exhibition.’  It still didn’t make the article less laughable:   

[The event] will also provide local MICE suppliers with the chance to introduce their services to the foreign MICE buyers in the MICE mart on July 10 at Shangrila Plaza Mall.

It’s another case of acronym abuse in a country where the list of acronyms is so long, you need reference material when you read the daily headlines.   I’m already used to CON-ASS (Constituent Assembly), but imagine a visitor to this country picking up the paper to read:  “Former President Ramos hopes PGMA keeps her CON-ASS titillations to herself.”   

The Moro Islamic Liberation Front should also consider using their full name because it’s hard not to burst out laughing when you read,  ““Army pounds MILF” and  “MILF expels Christians from Philippine farms” (gee, that’s one mean MILF!).   Compare that last headline with Reuters’ version, “Muslim rebels expel Christians.”  See?  It can be done.

Was Sophia Loren ever in the Philippines?

Because I don’t know how to explain this photo.  Unless someone gave the set to her as pasalubong?   I’m hoping someone finds a photo of her with a giant wooden rosary…

Sophia with giant spoon & fork

 Sophia spoon & fork update HERE

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.

Some ’70s kids things that weren’t so cool…

When I rely on memory, it was pretty cool growing up in the 70s.  I had all sorts of fun toys, the shows on TV were pretty good (even though we only had 5 channels).  But when I see photos like these, it makes me wonder…

Today’s kids’ beddings

 vs.

A 1974 touchy-feely kids’ bed that just takes your breath away

 

 

 

The latest toddler rocker from Netto Design

vs.

The 1970s slightly unsafe-looking PogoPony

 

 

Today’s KidKraft adorable kitchenette

vs.

A 1970s steel sink

 

 

Today’s example of an ad for Tween girls

vs.

A 1970s ad for Tween girls (and predators – creepy!)

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!

Mango Lassi is goood

Mmm... Mango Lassi !

I love mango shakes and juice, but the Indians added yogurt to the mix to come up with this delicious shake.  I love mango lassi – it’s creamy-fruity-yummy, it’s healthy,  and it’s very refreshing on a hot summer day. Make with our own Philippine mangoes for the best tasting lassi ever : )

1. Mix in a blender 1 cup plain yogurt, 1/2 cup milk, 4 teaspoons sugar (to taste), and 1 cup chopped mango. 
2. Blend for 2 minutes, sprinkle with some cardamom and cinnamon, and serve!

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!