Here’s the next six in the 2-in-1 series we designed for Sony BMG. As in the first four, my Arn‘s art graces the covers. 😉

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Nothing but small talk for now, friends. We’re wrapping up work on the next issue of Wedding Essentials and if there are brides-to-be out there reading this, please watch out for it because it’s even thicker than the last one¹. Of course that translates to more helpful features, tips, resources, and other “bride ideas”.
… Wait, there’s more! Because there are just so many weddings that are too beautiful and inspiring to keep to ourselves, we’re coming out with a special, separate issue focusing on exactly that: WE Beautiful Weddings.

And yes, there are a few familiar (co-blogger!) faces in it. Please stay tuned for details. 🙂

1. the “thickest issue ever”. Or so we thought haha[ back]

“Why didn’t I think of that?” idea of the week – scented jewelry mini-dessert charms from Pancake Meow¹.

They don’t only look astonishingly real, they smell real too². The scent menu reads so yummy you might run the risk of popping your mini-cupcake necklace charm into your mouth 🙂

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The new album by The Pin-up Girls All Seats are Taken is out! My Arn‘s art graces the cover and the design duties were as usual, handled by yours truly. A free pin-up comes with the album too. Hope you can check it out. Incidentally, they’re the opening act for ex-Fra Lippo Lippi guy Per Oystein Sorensen’s upcoming concert in Manila – coolness huh?

The Pin-up Girls is composed of Mondo Castro, Jeng Tan-Mata³, Mitch Singson⁴ and Ryan Natchuira and the album is released here, in Japan and in Europe by Sutton Records.

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Visit, visit! Cool new sites of old friends:

?¢‚Ǩ¬¢ Neva Talladen: Nev is a very, very good writer. Everyone’s been egging her to join the Palancas for sometime now, not that her talent needs validation. Visit her site and see what magic she can do with words.⁵
?¢‚Ǩ¬¢ John Lacson: Pao is a bright young entrepreneur, web designer, and car enthusiast. He’s also the person to ask about anything gadget-related — hehe I know I’m guilty of that.⁶

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I know I’ve been plugging about anything and everything non-stop but it would be great for all of us to support local talent, right? 🙂 On that note, please don’t forget to check out my hubby’s book Ang Mundo ni Andong Agimat, still available at your favorite bookstores.

1. how cute is that brand name?[ back]
2. of course I can only imagine how good they must smell from here on the other side of the world wide web[ back]
3. Just a bit of trivia: ten years ago, Arn illustrated for the album of Jeng’s former band Keltscross called “Revenge of the Fishlips“. In fact I had that album even before I met him! Art-wise, he’s gone a long way since then … see for yourself.[ back]
4. Oh, back in 2000, we also designed the cd for Mitch’s other band, guess na lang which one (he has three).[ back]
5. Also the longtime sweetie of our friend Monra[ back]
6. He’s also Tippi‘s baby brother![ back]

(Can you guess what song the above lyrics are from?)

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I’m having a pret-ty busy summer as I’m sure you can tell by the slow trickle of entries. But of course I won’t leave you, dear blog visitor, without pretty things to look at:

1. My friend Tippi Ocampo‘s Summer Collection. In true Tippi fashion, the new designs revolve around another unexpected, brilliant theme: in her words – designed for our sweltering, humid summers, this collection for Pret-a-party was inspired by linens and wash cloths on a laundry line, and uses braids and circular “trapo” inspired accents. (Isn’t it amazing how she can make “trapo” look good?!) Click here to get a sneak peek.

And while you’re at it, do find time to read her journal too. Between her and Sheila, I find all the good advice and girly inspiration I’ll ever need. (:

2. If you’ve recently stopped and admired the very stylish, high-street-boutique inspired window displays of People Are People, you have renegade designers Zoo and Jois of Inksurge to salute. How many times do I have to tell you that they rock? Click on the link to see their other new works but hold tight, they’re sure to blow you away.

I also have Zoo to thank for offering to resize an existing 50mb movie and converting it into Quicktime for right when I’ve almost given up on it. Said video is the interview of Karla that’s up on the Claycakes site.

3. Kuya twin Quark and his lovely sweetie Lia just soft-launched their baby, a photo studio in Gateway Mall called Blow-up Babies! And it’s not just any ordinary photo company folks, they had a cinematographer train a pool of photographers so every picture is a surefire hit on your living room wall. Their site is still a work-in-progress (eep, my bad) but now completely up(!) so please do click the link just as well since it already has samples of the kind of photos they take.

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My poor Arn has been feeling quite sick this past week but a Vs. System game or two always manages to cheer him up. I’m not really fond of CCG’s but this is actually fun and relatively uncomplicated (for non-gamers like me, that is). You can enlist random Marvel or DC heroes and villains like Wolverine, Spiderman, Mr. Fantastic and Joker to fight against one another – doesn’t that sound like a teenage boy’s dream come true? The mania started when I got him the X-Men deck a couple of months ago and we’ve been hooked on the game ever since (as it turns out, it’s not just us). As of now whe have five decks – Fantastic Four, X-Men vs. Brotherhood, Batman vs. Joker, Batman vs. Ra’s Al Ghul, and Spiderman vs. Doc Ock – and are eagerly awaiting the Superman deck. Join the fun! The games are available for P400++/deck and boosters are P180++/pack at toy stores.