♫ Let Go ft. Kele, MNDR

This song was out several months ago, but we'd just like to share the vid. Can't get much better than RAC, Kele and MNDR in the same song together. The video is a work of art, with some hannibal lecter references. 

Our interpretation is that like the song, it's about letting go. The man makes sacrifices by letting go of the girl and sending her to prison. And the lady lets go by either stopping herself from eating people, or eventually succumbing and then eating some chick.

How nice.

Merry Christmas!

♛ EMF

Exactly a week ago on December 14, Saturday was the Exception Music Festival! But no one actually says that, everyone just says EMF. We haven't been able to post lately with the cruelly-scheduled exams right before Christmas, PLUS the terrible rush of gift buying and christmas binging. 

All the DJs were impressive, but what made the heaviest impression were Arty, Dubvision and of course: Krewella. 

Shelly had the festival planned for a while after several concerts/shows/festivals (4 in two weeks) and was prepared, but Lala hurried and bought her ticket last minute, a few hours before the festival began. 

Stylebible.ph even took our pictures

The aura of the concert was fantastic and the rain only strengthened the energy... and washed away the pawis.

rain or shine

Shelly with a black crop top from topshop, plaid ala-assumption school girl (sorry) shorts skort thing, black converse

Lala wearing a sea foam crop top, high waisted denim jeans and white converse

☀ Saturdays

If memory does not fail us, the other friday night we had a sleepover in Shell's house. Woke up to the terrible Shelly making weird noises at 730 am and exercised in polo. Then we let the workout go to waste in Jamba Juice, and headed out later that night. 

Yep. Sorry we haven't been posting lately, school's been a drag especially as it's midterm exams. 

Can't wait for the R&R Christmas break always comes with!

couldn't help but cloudwatch  

Shelly thinking some deep shit

and the exercise disappears with the most delicious Strawberry-Banana yogurt parfait on a hot day (see dem rhymes)

Lala borrowing Shelly's exercise clothes and getting blisters on the too-big shoes 

Shelly and Jose Fores conducting some important business on his phone

dey see me rollin dey hatin

Sabie Romulo, Lala,  Jose

Sam Tero, Martha Yupangco, Lala, Shelly

and le same people again

Back to work, study and christmas gift wrapping in between.

Peace out lil nigglers! 

♥ Shelly and Lala

words: Lala Singian

♫ Meeting Martin Garrix in Manila!

Last December 5 2013 Thursday, Martin Garrix, a 17 year old DJ from the Netherlands, had a concert here in the Philippines for his Asia tour. I'm just gonna give an intro about him here, and rave about the guy for a while:

Garrix is an international dj and is continuously performing around the world. He is widely known for creating electronic dance and progressive house music. His tracks convey youthful energy and at an all time high. His most popularly known track that placed him on top of the charts in the UK and basically all around the world is "Animals". The prodigy has collaborated tracks with guys like Hardway as well as mixed tracks of Dimitri Vegas, such as Mike and Sander Van Doorn. He is also a very good-looking dutchman. 

A truly gifted DJ and still so young, he kind of makes us and all our friends feel ridiculously unsuccessful.... 
It was such a pleasure meeting him in Aracama during dinner and then being able to watch him perform live in Privé. A few of his other original tracks would include Wizard and Keygen, which he played in Privé as well. He is supposedly collaborating a track with Alesso. 
It was a school night, and the 17-year-old kid took a plane to Jakarta the next day, while I stumbled into a car on the way to school. Ugh.
I honestly cannot wait to see what this kid can do five years from now, and it's probably gonna be even bigger.

Miko Tiu Laurel, Michelle Aguirre, Martin Garrix, Elene Heuze
(c) Miko Tiu Laurel

♥ Shelly

♫ Arctic Monkeys - AM

First off, our sincerest apologies for not posting for so long. School is all up on our back :-( *sigh*

The Arctic Monkey's somewhat recent (released last September?) album "AM' is as slick as Alex Turner's hair and cool as his leather jacket with its popped collar. Their video for "Why'd You only Call Me when You're High" (below) pretty much embodies the tone of the whole album. 

All the tracks, like the video, set an image of an environment in a grimy but rat-free bar. The leather-clad skinny young thugs are playing pool at an ungodly hour on a thursday evening. These characters are completely drunk yet quiet and somber, glaring at everyone and discreetly rambling slurred, intoxicated monologues. Or they are in a loud, raucous bar fight. Either way, everyone in the bar is wearing a leather jacket and has way too much gel in their hair. 

"Mad Sounds" sets a sentimental lullaby tone, tambourines, heavy-bass playing and all. "R U Mine" gets you head banging and is a good bar fight anthem. "No. 1 Party Anthem" has funny satirical lyrics and a slow pace. I think the song was trying to make a statement or connection to LMFAO's own Party Rock Anthem. Each song has its own little personality that adds up to the whole album.

While listening to the music, the lead singer Alex Turner, has eyes wide with cool I can hardly bear. His voice is as smug and gentle as ever. The poetic lyrics have stayed quintessentially Arctic Monkeys, and are combined with the gentler, slithering, sly music the band manages to project a perfect, clear and consistent image.

Everyone knows this one, methinks.

♥ Lala

☀ How to help in Metro Manila for the Yolanda Situation!

Instead of sitting in front of your computer screens on your plush swively chairs, get productive and volunteer in relief ops around the Metro Manila area!

Shelly and I helped out in San Antonio on Saturday afternoon, details on where and how to contact them are below. I helped out in Balai under Operation Tulong Bayan (OTB) earlier today, details below as well.

We'd prefer to help out more, but we only have two free days in a week to do volunteer work because for the other 5 days, school naturally comes first. 

When we were little, we helped relief operations in Ondoy and Milenyo and never forgot. But now that we're older, we realize that devastation has been a yearly occurrence in the Philippines and has not been slowing down. This saddens us, but since we can't control mother nature, the most we can do is help out.
The following information compiled below hopes people will get up, out and packing:

Balai - EDSA corner MacArthur Avenue, Cubao QC 
CONTACT INFORMATION: 9136254 or 9113101 local 8400 RUBY BUSTAMANTE +639088816494

The Commissary at Whitespace - 2341 Chino Roces Ave Ext, formerly Pasong Tamo Ext, Makati
CONTACT INFORMATION: 7290030 or 7290032, +639178815237 TRISH LOCSIN 

Santuario de San Antonio Parish - 3117 McKinley Rd. Forbes Park, Makati City
CONTACT INFORMATION: (632) 843-8830 to 31

Department of Social Welfare and Development - 389 San Rafael Street corner Legarda Street, Sampaloc, Manila 
CONTACT INFORMATION: (02)734-86-39

and more (source: CNN)

The next few pictures are of the relief work in Balai Cubao earlier today. 

The pictures are nothing spectacular, and all point-and-shoot blurry iphone pics because I had to get back to work.

each person getting themselves busy

"real men" according to one of the organizers

bags

Sitting on your tushes complaining isn't going to do anything. 

Get to work, people! 

Hope this post helped give you some ideas on where to give a hand :)

♥ Lala

☀️ How to make your own Jamba Juice!

First off, we'd like to apologize for not posting for a long time - we've been busy with school and life, generally.. hehe

Anyway

School was cancelled last Friday and we woke up and didn't have much to do so we decided to go exercising!

We worked out in polo first, had lunch in Nanten and bumped into some friends. (Jose, Sabie, AJ... lol hi guys)

We decided to go to Jamba Juice, the high street one, just because... And spontaneously decided to try out making our own Jamba Juice - a feature that is available in Jamba any day, any time!

All you gotta do is order your delicious drink, ask if you can make it and voíla, get to it!:

1. You put on the standard Jamba uniform: cap, apron

2. Wash your hands

3. Put the ice cream

4. Put the other condiments

5. Skillfully flip the ice into the cup

6. Watch and blend

7. Serve yourself!

Instructions on how to!

feat. Jose Fores 

wow Rolex on the job

Shelloy getting ready

Pooper scooper for her orange drink

Lala bein lala

♥ Shelly and Lala

♦ Lusso

Lusso is a take on modern French food by manila's food savior Margarita Fores. It is situated in greenbelt 5, beside balenciaga and across Ayala museum. 

We were originally going to eat there for our school gastronomy club, but decided on just having a nice non-school affiliated dinner instead. 

Well-priced considering the amount of truffle oil they lather on the food and generous servings of foie gras. Not fancy enough for a tablecloth and fine silver, but a perfect place for a nice meal that ranges from 500-800 pesos. It is relatively expensive, but not astronomical or cheap, so as we said, well-priced. The ambiance is luxurious but not extravagant, with plush velvet chairs and bright yellow lighting from the chandelier above. The cutlery and plates are fairly simple, but with little touches, like a cute capiz knife to spread the dip. 

The dinner ended at 8 because it was a school night, and we parted ways. It was a pleasant dinner with lovely company and we're already planning our next gastronomical venture soon.  

facing: Julia Cu Unijeng, Lala Singian, Sabie Romulo,  Miko Tiu Laurel
back: Shelly Aguirre, Jose Fores, Ina Kole

laughing 

truffle potato chips

Julia's famous burger with foie gras. I didn't try this decadent sandwich but apparently it was delicious.

truffle fries, truffle everything

Jose's duck confit

my foie gras croque monsieur with truffle potato chips yet again 

♥ Shelly & Lala
(words by Lala)

♫ RIP Lou Reed

"There's a bit of magic in everything, and some loss to even things out." 

- Lou Reed

Sunday Morning - The Velvet Underground

A Walk on the Wild Side - Lou Reed

Lou Reed, influential lead singer of the Velvet Underground passed away at 71 earlier today.

Two of his more popular songs are shown above. We remember him as a pioneer of a softer-sounding rock music that tackled the most grimy and taboo subject matters. He related to the minorities, the outcasts, the gays and the transexuals of his time. Lou talked about debauchery pretty frankly, no sugar coating allowed. Despite this, the man had a creative mind who sung words that when strung together, had the ability to send chills down your spine.  

His songs are sentimental and poignant, and we remember him by revisiting his music today. A fine poet has left this world to play music that transcends the mundane some place else. 

Rest in Peace, Lou Reed.

❀ Lala

♛ Philippine Fashion Week - Giordano Show!

The two of us took the opportunity to attend the amazing Giordano show at Philippine Fashion week on Saturday, October 26. 

We gave away our 9 free tickets to 9 of our blog readers!

All our thanks to the wonderful Ericka Bugia  for the tickets, the all access passes to fashion week and backstage passes!

We accidentally ended up at SMX Convention Center and had to walk in our heels all the way to the Main MOA atrium. Waiting outside for our reader-winners we weren't able to get the best of seats. But it was a great and very fun learning experience, where we left with more than we came in with.

Pictures aren't of the best quality, but keep posted because better pictures with the official camera are coming up soon!

We were given media passes which gave us access to all fashion shows in Philippine Fashion Week but were only able to catch the Giordano show due to conflicting schedules ):

On Shelly:
top: topshop; billowy skirt: topshop; beige suede wedges: topshop

On Lala:
top: recycled ballet leotard from pre-k days haha..; skirt: houndstooth zara skirt; bag: forzieri italy

We stumbled backstage and interview some models! Posts about our interviews with the models coming up soon, as well as a follow up on the show!

Keep posted, thanks for taking the time to read this :)

♥ Shelly and Lala

♛ Philippine Fashion Week Giordano Show Tickets

Congratulations to the following winners of the Philippine Fashion Week Giordano tickets! :)

@nikki_marella

@ghelinesays

@eda0712

@_callmeGraceee

@LoveJungilWoo

@nadiaxpizza

@samantha_tero

@NUNUtellla

*

Please wait for information on how to obtain the tickets.

Also, keep checking this blog for more contests with more prizes!

(*note: this is not a complete list, for some people wished to keep their twitters private)

♥ Shelly and Lala

☀ The Farm at San Benito

The Farm at San Benito is a beautiful health sanctuary and hotel just a few hours away from Manila, in Bataan. I was lucky enough to be able to visit the organic haven, and it was a rejuvenating experience.

All the meals at ALIVE! restaurant were vegan: no meat, no dairy, no eggs - but we didn't mind, really, because the concoctions were creative, beautifully presented and delicious.

In terms of fitness, I'd wakeup with  yoga in the mornings and calisthenics and boot camp in the afternoons. After my workouts, I'd usually go for a swim. I also did some lazy man's yoga - which means I had a masahe hehe and it was guh-reat.

The landscaping is overwhelming, with foliage that soothed my city-accustomed eyes. There were peacocks, geese and ducks roaming around every turn I took. Even if the greenery was manicured, the environment was so relaxing and a perfect escape from the Manila hustle.

Scratching my leg, because there are some sacrifices that need to be made while in nature - which means a hella lotta ants

Atrium

Peacock party outside of the villa

Rub a dub dub - even baths are organic and au naturale

The beautiful infinity pool

Swimming

The all-glass gym - heaven to fitness junkies

Gyming in a box surrounded by a jungle is a good enough motivation to keep running & lifting

Apologies for my shitty collage lol but hey,
Doesn't it look delicious?
Well thankfully it's all organic and vegan so you don't have to worry about anything unhealthy entering your body!

Take this for example, a Vegan Breakfast
"Bacon" substituted by Coconut
"Scrambled Eggs" substituted by Cauliflower

yum

❀ Lala