California is Cool

I am not (yet) blogging from California, and the weather is still hot where I am. This blog is about a new store format. A little introduction (or insights)..  I love that shops today incorporate architecture and interior design in building their store and showcasing their products. Chic stores have chandeliers and candlesticks, lingerie stores have drawers to keep their cute and sexy pieces and there is even a beauty store in Toronto which has sink where you can wash your face to try their beauty products. The stores now are not just mirrors, hangers and lights.

The stores are even getting make-overs - just like Mossimo, as it launches the California is Cool. (There goes the California is Cool story..). The new store format shows California cool ambiance that reflects a street-style combined with beach lifestyle culture. For some reason that appeals to me - probably because I want to look and feel younger.


See here are some pictures of the store which re-opened last November 1st.

 

Click Read More to see more photos..

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Chateau 1771

After graduating from College, I enjoyed my life being a certified bum, while my friends distributed their resume's to the finest hotels and restaurants in the country. Most of my friends worked in Chateau 1771 - that nice, classy restaurant in El Pueblo.

Oh yeah, I remember El Pueblo.. I remember the good old days.. El Pueblo was once the place "to be seen". The TGIFriday's and Tequila Joe's were once favorite spots.

I remember I also applied in the same restaurant, and they asked me to do a "walk-through duty" for one day. This is to make me feel if I would like to work for Chateau 1771. What can I say? Knowing the elaborate table setting and proper stance are required to work for this restaurant. As I finished my 8-hour training that day, I realized I would love to be on the receiving end of the fine service.

So after almost a decade (I am that old! Graduation Day feels like only yesterday!), Chateau 1771 remains unshaken, evoking the feel-good vibe of exquisite flavors of Swiss, Italian, and French for over two decades (can you imagine?)

Now residing in the posh Greenbelt Mall,  Chateau 1771 is still the place to go when you think of fine dining. So before the year comes to a close and in preparation for Chateau's 25th year anniversary next year, Executive Chef Vicky Rose Pacheco rounds out the quarter with a new batch of dishes brining back old flavors, which will surely change the way a gourmet food is defined.

See some good food below that would make you want to go to Chateau 1771. 

Click Read More to know what's old and new in Chateau 1771..
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Speck's CandyShell Flip for iPhone5: Case of the Year

For those of my friends who are sporting their new iPhone 5 - might be interested to buy Speck's CandyShel Flip.

Available in the following stores: Power Mac Center, Beyond the Box, Digital Hub, Digital Walker, iStudio, Switch, iStore, iCenter, Mobile 1, iGig, The A Shop, SencoLink.

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If you are reading this post somewhere, it is originally written by Ruth and published in www.ruthilicious.blogspot.com.

Great Buys of the Week: Shoes from Payless Outlet Store

Sitting beside someone you like as he drives - you could wish for the time to freeze and just not stop. But if there is one thing that could make me want to end the moment, it would just be - shops.

As we passed the place called Solenad, with outlet stores waving and screaming at me to stop, my first reaction was to call the other car and asked if they wanted to take a peek at what's these stores are offering. So we agreed. To shop.

Finding the mall's entrance was a challenge. The stores open at 10 in the morning.  But we got in and waited.

This happened last week - an overnight stay in my friend's rest house in Tagaytay with (as my friend puts it), good food and company of great friends. I cannot remember the last time I was in Tagaytay, so I am surprised to see alot of developments. It looks alot like the city. For several occassions, I had been invited to the events in Nuvali - to explore the place, feed the fish, and ride a boat.. but for all those occassions, I was not available.

So it was nice to finally get to see the hailed Nuvali - and even take home some good buys from the Solenad outlet stores. It is been a while since I blogged about my great buys - but that doesn't mean I stopped shopping.

So what have I got?

 Click Read More to see more.. ;)

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Write a Letter and Be a Santa for a Day!

What if you could write a note to Santa and get a chance to have your gift granted? Remember those contest and programs on TV which they give whatever the letter sender is asking - and they give more than what was requested. 

This Holiday Season, Electrolux will be your Santa Claus - and it is no secret! Simply write him a letter and choose what appliance you want to give to your loved ones! Plus, Electrolux offers you an opportunity to give the gift of comfort and convenience at home to someone dear to you in the form of Electrolux Appliances. 


Click Read More to know the mechanics..
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Kotex x Love Bayo's Modern Fairytale

I don't have a fairytale to share, just yet. Let me just share I how I first encountered Bayo and Kotex. I was in first year High School when I first got a Bayo top (do the math, and you will realize I am that old!) ;) A year after, that's when I started to add Kotex in our grocery list. Kotex, which I thought is the most fashionable sanitary pad in the country. Think of its color, style and packaging.

And yes, I continuously buy Kotex, among other brands of napkins; but after graduation and when I started working in the corporate world, I thought Bayo was too young for me. I don't know why I felt the need to dress all stiff and smart during those years, and it is ironic that I wanted to look and dress younger now.

So I was excited and mesmerized when I witnessed the unveiling of the Modern Fairytale collection by 18-year old Slyvia Park who won the first ever SoFA Young Designer Competition for Bayo Design Collection.

 The launch was held in M Cafe last week and celebrated with hors d'oeuvres and Chardonnay.

 Click Read More, to see the collection..
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Say It Sweeter (and Bigger) with Toblerone

Chocolates. I cannot just say no to chocolates and I cannot just say no to a chocolate event, and one that is organized by Toblerone, I am sure to go (especially I was invited by our friends Ogilvy who won the Agency of the Year award at the 11th Philippine Quill Awards - Congratulations guys!). So I went, even if I was late. I only had two hours of sleep that day. I am back to attending events recently, after we got the thumbs up from the Hypercare period for our project in the office.

What are the things that come to mind when you think of chocolates? Childhood treat, romantic moves, and calories, probably when you are getting older. If there is anything that chocolate represents, it is "lambing".

 
So Toblerone invited 3 unique voices to a storytelling session- columnist and entrepreneur, Twee Gonzales; Rock-end founder and writer Gang Badoy-Capati, and actress and blogger, Saab Magalona to share their personal vignettes on Pinoy lambing.

 

Photo Credit

 Click Read More on how you can give lambing more..

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Uniqlo SM North EDSA Pre-Opening: Are You Ready to Shop on Friday?

Guess where I shopped last night? Uniqlo SM North EDSA!

The store held a special pre-opening event for the media guests, friends, and bloggers after the awarding/meet-and-greet event for the winners of Uniqlo's Ultimate Fashionista. I am sure you remember that the store was all covered with tarpaulins with entries from the Facebook Contest. A friend told me he saw my picture there. Oh, that's nice of Uniqlo to include my picture, as I think I was the only one wearing a tube top when all the other contestants were covered with Fall/Winter Collection from Uniqlo. 

Speaking of Fall/Winter Collection.. that was what welcomed me when I entered the Uniqlo SM North EDSA store, accompanied with accommodating Uniqlo staff who were handing me shopping baskets.
 

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 Click Read More to see more of best buys..
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The IBM Smarter Cities Challenge Recipient in Philippines

I was supposed to write about a shopping experience and store pre-opening, but while I edit some pictures of the event, let me just share something, uhm, really interesting and essential to our society. 

Before I start with the story, can I just share that my commute from Eastwood (where I work) to Manila took more than 2 hours? That is crazy, and during this time I wish I could fly. Literally fly and land at home, and figuratively, fly to another city where traffic doesn't mean "heavy traffic". Anyway, so this experience is somewhat related to the news I received..

... IBM identified Makati City and 30 other cities worldwide as recipients of its Smarter Cities Challenge grants for 2013!

Launched in 2011, the IBM Smarter Cities Challenge is a three-year, 100-city, US$50-million competitive grant program.  The program, which is IBM's single-largest philanthropic initiative, assigns a team of six top IBM experts to each winning city to study a key issue identified by the city's leadership. 

Well before the team arrives for its three-week pro bono consulting engagement valued at approximately US$400,000, the IBM volunteers are already hard at work studying the city's issue.  Upon arrival, the team works with city officials to analyze data, and solicit the input of dozens of local agencies and advocacy groups.  IBM then provides detailed recommendations for how the city might efficiently and effectively address the issue.

For year-three of the IBM Smarter Cities Challenge, cities around the world once again competed vigorously to benefit from IBM's expertise. The winning cities proposed innovative projects and areas of focus. These included strategies that address:

· Economic and Workforce Development -- reducing local dependence on a single industry
· Social Services - creating an ecosystem that supports independent living for a growing senior citizen community
· Sustainability - setting policies around billing rates, electric vehicle use, and solar power generation on an upgraded power grid
· Capital Budget Planning - enabling citizens to request expenditures, while analyzing their potential impact
· Urban Planning - taking a more systematic, data-driven approach to housing policy, downtown revitalization, zoning, and permits

Some facts, you might find interesting..

In 2012, IBM provided expert counsel to 33 cities worldwide who had earned IBM Smarter Cities Challenge grants.  These included engagements in:

· Cheongju, Korea, where IBM recommended smarter transportation strategies
· Dortmund, Germany, and Malaga Spain, where IBM formulated plans for economic, workforce, skills development
· Jacksonville, USA, where IBM outlined steps for downtown revitalization
· Louisville, USA, where IBM showed how the city could use data to identify, predict and mitigate conditions that trigger asthma
· Nairobi, Kenya, where IBM created a plan for traffic management 
· Geraldton, Australia, where IBM suggested ways for the city to become a leader in smart grid technology adoption and digital services
· Curitaba, Brazil, where IBM suggested approaches to sustainability and citizen engagement

In the first two years of the Smarter Cities Challenge, IBM completed work in 64 cities globally, deploying nearly 400 of its most talented experts who delivered concrete and measurable results to winning cities.  

 Smarter Cities Challenge is a variant of IBM's Corporate Service Corps (please click the IBM Indonesia 3!!!!), a pro bono consulting program that assists government with projects that intersect business, technology, and society.  Since its launch in 2008, Corporate Service Corps has sent more than 2,000 of IBM's top talent based in 50 countries on more than 200 team assignments in 30 countries. 

Ok, I feel goosebumps reading the description of the IBM Corporate Service Corp. Oh yes, I am part of this.. remember my Indonesia assignment? =)  Lookie, Tom and Javier's recommendations are being considered by the client. The project is to improve traffic situation in Makassar.


And the news is just perfect timing as I get intouch again with the IBM CSC Philippines 12 whose assignment I facilitated before their deployment in Cagayan De Oro last September. Read their blog here.  They worked with DAR, MASS SPECC and CHED. Unfortunately, I was in Toronto for business travel and wasn't able to meet them.

So this is just good news! I remember traffic was also our chosen topic for our brain-storming activity for Harvard University Study. We thought that traffic affects business, personal lives and other aspects of our lives. So if traffic will be resolved, we can be more efficient and effective in everything we do. 

So that's all for the traffic-y post.. what do you say? 

  

If you like this post, click the like button or the Facebook Share button! Spread the love. Like my Facebook Fan Page at www.facebook.com/ruthiliciousblog or follow my updates on Twitter @ruthilicious.

If you are reading this post somewhere, it is originally written by Ruth and published in www.ruthilicious.blogspot.com.

 

Block Screening of Twilight: Breaking Dawn + Win Tickets + Freebie

Yeah, yeah. You have seen them - on TV,  posters, preview in movie theaters.. they are running after you, because they (Bella, Jacob and Edward) want you to see them in the big screen before everything else does!

Book a seat to the Block Screening of Breaking Dawn Part 2 on Nov 15 and Get a FREE Limited Edition BYS Bracelet and Surprise Gifts from SMART! But here's the treat, I will be giving away two tickets to one lucky reader. 

November 15, 2012 2:30 PM Screening Cinema 1, Greenbelt 3, Ayala Center.
This give-away is brought to you by BYS, Smart and Buyanihan.com

  a Rafflecopter giveaway



Tickets cost P700 each. A part of the proceeds will be donated to Bantay Kalikasan of the ABS-CBN Foundation Inc.

Please note that screening will start on time, so I suggest that you come 30 minutes before the screening schedule.

SCREENING SCHEDULE:

1:00 PM - tickets for this schedule are only available at BYS SM outlets
2:30 PM - if you want to watch on this schedule, join my give-away!
10:30 PM

 

HOW TO RESERVE TICKETS:

1.      Call +632 886-6190 and look for Bev or Lhevi.
2.      Text 09175910395.
3.      Visit us at Buyanihan Digital, 1010 Cityland Herrera Tower, Rufino
St. corner Valero St. Salcedo Village, Makati City.
4.      Reserve online at Buyanihan.com.



About Breaking Dawn Part 2

The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 2 (commonly referred to as Breaking Dawn – Part 2) is the upcoming 2012 romantic fantasy film directed by Bill Condon and based on the novel Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer.

Click Read More to know more about Breaking Dawn and the sponsors!

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Hello, Hello Kitty! Welcome to Manila!

Hello Kitty has arrived in Manila! No joke! I was there when Hello Kitty arrived in a fancy car, welcomed by mall-rats, kids, Hello Kitty fanatics and celebrities last Saturday at the Atrium of SM The Block.

 

It was almost a blur as red, pink and gold confetti came showering as Hello Kitty walked down the stage and got mobbed by media.

Even celebrities like Elmo, Saab, and Maxene Magalona were happy to see Hello Kitty in person. I admit that I am not really a big fan of Hello Kitty, but that afternoon I felt like a kid as I get excited to see the most popular character of Sanrio.

 

Click Read More to see more of Hello Kitty..

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The Sights, Sounds, and Scenes in Downtown Toronto

I started this draft last week, and only got to finish today.. 

So, the weekend is over. Almost. Unfortunately for us who support Canada expats, we do not follow Philippine holiday. Long weekend will rarely happen.

Tomorrow, back to the office. I had already accepted the difficulties of this work, but I wish I could just work from home and not worry about traffic, pollution and evil intentions. I used to tell my parents that I never wanted to work in another country because I felt safer here - but everything has changed after the trip.

I realized that although we are a free country, people never really feel the freedom - we cannot just freely use our phones outside when commuting, or even wear a skirt without men looking at you - there is not even a clean, fresh air to breathe, and you and your schedule are controlled by traffic.

When you get home, you see stories and news of killings, theft and juvenile crimes.

I am ranting. Again. I am just sad and frustrated about the situation in the country. But during this time that I am feeling helpless and down, I turn to my album and look at the pictures of the fun, interesting things I saw during my trip.

Downtown Toronto is one of the most visited places. It is the Central Business District in Toronto, 

Let me share some scenes and things I see in Downtown..

Batman and Spiderman are always in Downtown not to save the world, 

but to make your commute fun!

 

The streets are always busy and I only get to see this

after the rush hour..

The Yonge Street (pronounced as young)

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