It's Christmas!

Haven't been in front of the computer much since I got back from Boracay, but I didn't want to miss sending out my holiday greetings. My Christmas wish for all of you: good health, prosperity, peace, and of course, great style.

Have a beautiful Christmas, everyone!

And I'm Off...

Going to Boracay in the morning to attend my friend Annette's wedding on Thursday. I haven't seen Annette for years since our La Salle days, so I'm looking forward to catching up with her. And to get to know her about-to-be husband, whom I've never met.

It's my second time to attend a beach wedding in Boracay (last year it was also in December for my friends Criscy and Migs), but I still have no idea what to wear...

All I Want for Christmas...

... is a medium-sized tool bag from The Gentlemen's League, designed by Seth Stevens and illustrated by Adam Rezak. US Vogue doesn't say, so I'm wondering how much a bespoke bag with personalized drawing will cost.

(Click on the photo to read the article and a have a clearer view of the bag.)

The Gift of Party

These are the receipts I got from Astoria Plaza, The BlueFrog Wines, Rustan's Supermarket, High Top Supermarket and the friendly neighborhood beer distributor, Oliveros, for the following:

a 2-bedroom suite
16 bottles of wine
3 cases of beer
grocery items that went into the making of spaghetti in tomato sauce with meatballs and smoked cheese, calamari with garlic mayonnaise dip

Friendly neighborhood barbecuer Mang Greg delivered 100 sticks, but gave no receipt.

Anyway. Giving a party is so much easier for me than buying individual gifts for my friends. (Even if it means staying up late to chop tomatoes, squids and cheese... and taking several trips to buy ice from MiniStop to buy enough ice to cover a bathtubful of drinks.) Since I still cannot wrap my mind around the idea that "it's the thought that counts," I'm always mortified that I'll give the wrong gift. (Personally, I'm more offended by an unconsidered gift than receiving no gift at all.) Thus, I always tell friends instead of material things, I'm giving them the gifts of togetherness and merrymaking--two things we can never have enough of.

Fewer than expected went last Friday, but those who couldn't go had valid reasons, so it's fine. Those who came had a good time, by all indications. 'Til next year, friends. Thank you and merry Christmas!

New Stripes

My third cardigan in a single week. Time to move on to other clothing items.

Striped cardigan from Tyler.

Party Music

I've been asked to provide the music for tomorrow's company party, an easy task now that I've decided that I'd simply play the entire discography of Girl Talk aka the mashup DJ Gregg Gillis.

I was introduced to Girl Talk only this year, with the release of his CD Feed the Animals, a sonic collage that seamlessly samples over 300 songs in 15 amazingly fun tracks. I've since enjoyed all his others albums. And tomorrow, all my officemates will, too.

Today

Because I'm almost always in monochrome, piling on three patterns is a personal breakthrough.

Table for One

Cibo has become a default lunch place when I can't decide where to eat. And I no longer look at their menu because I always order the crabmeat pasta in tomato sauce.

Having defaults like this is great for when your date is just your own self. Just like in relationships with other people, you want to have little traditions with yourself.

Today's Lunch

Pasta with tomato sauce and Italian sausage from Cafe Enzo: simple, tasty, filling and affordable.

The doggie bag: No, I didn't eat it for lunch, but I have a certain attachment to them (I think they're oddly romantic), and this one is particularly well-designed and made.

From the Grapevine

'Tis the season for wine and merrymaking, so I thought it was timely when I read this email from my friend Chinkee today. I thought of putting it here for anyone interested. (I won't include the price lists, which can be requested from her email, below.)

Hello everyone! My friend and I are selling both reasonably-priced and premium wines for the holidays. (Selections include those below P455 and those below P1000.)

The minimum order per kind is 1 case (12 bottles), except for those priced at P700 and up, wherein you can order per bottle. FREE DELIVERY to the Makati-Bonifacio Global City-Ortigas Center-Greenhills area.

If you wish to see our full list, including our premium vintages, please let me know so I can e-mail it to you. E-mail me at chinkee_clemente@yahoo.com

Thanks and Happy Holidays!

Chinkee

Steak at 145º F

This I always say: Nothing stands between me and a good piece of steak. Which is why I took a break from burrowing in the house during the three-day weekend to have dinner at 145ºF last Sunday.

If you're from the north and love steak (or seafood, which I also love), I urge you to try this place out. It's a very welcome addition to the restaurants in the area, and is in fact a standout. You'd normally go to some of the restaurants in Morato just for the food. But you can go to 145ºF and have fine food and a pleasurable dining experience.