Simone Legno X TARGET

FINALLY!!! My box of Simone Legno designed, "Back To School 2009" goodies for TARGET, USA have arrived... actually picked it up from the Post office last Friday, but waited till everything slows down a bit to TEAR INTO THE BOX...

The graphics are just too cool - but what else can one expect from tokidoki design master, himself! From what I hear, the goods SOLD OUT quite FAST... so am very GRATEFUL for my friend, Iveta, for picking them up for me - and making sure I get at least one of everything available... MUCH APPRECIATED, Iveta!!!
PHOTOS HEREI sure HOPE Mr. Legno will continue to collaborate with TARGET for other goodies....

Broadway Bound - I Wish!

So, I was just thinking - one of the things I really miss about not living in the US are the plays, musical plays, that I used to go see... starting way back in High School - i have enjoyed the obligatory class trips to see Stage Musicals or Plays.... that I soon as I started earning my own bucks (as a working college student) I made it a point to save moolah for the next Musical play to come through San Francisco.

Then during my working stiff years, as a buyer and General Manager of a Gift Company - I was blessed to be sent to New York each year for the Toy Fair - and I made sure I catch whatever is the HOTTEST play at the time...

I was fortunate enough to have seen Jennifer Holliday in Dreamgirls; Mandy Patinkin in FALSETTOS; Bernadette Peters in Into The Woods (still a Personal Fave), Betty Buckley in Sunset Blvd., Lea Salonga in both Miss Saigon & Les Miz; plus a host of others.... I MISS BROADWAY!!! I believe the last Broadway Baby I saw in New York, around mid 2000) was the girl from CSI: New York doing CABARET...

But living in Taiwan, where too few musical plays come (and usually at a HIGHER price) I really do not get to see them as much anymore... The last few years I get my fix usually during my TRAVELS - trying to catch whatever is playing like Mamma Mia in Spain (in all Spanish!) and Into The Woods in a small theatre in Manila...

Thank God for BBC Radio & Elaine Page- I get my Broadway Musical Fix through her weekly, 2hr show covering the best Broadway music from both London and New York; upcoming musicals; music from the Movies - and a weekly Special Musical Guest chatting about Musicals and even singing LIVE. If you love musicals - check it out and let Elaine bring you the Best of Broadway!

Father's Day - Now I KNow!

A couple of days ago, while having coffee and lounging about at home with Lynn and David - we got to thinking about Father's Day and it's origins... you see in Taiwan it is CELEBRATED on August 8 (8/8), pronounced BaBa - which is closed to Papa, hence, why it was chosen to be celebrated on this day...

So they asked me why the US (and everywhere else in the world) celebrates on the third SUNDAY each year? And I was lost for words -- I honestly did not know.

What to do? What to do? Of course I had to GOOGLE it and the BEST and SIMPLEST explanation I got was this:
Father's Day (Third Sunday in June)
Quite interesting that there's few speculations on how it really started - but no matter, it is always GREAT to give Thanks and Celebrate our Love for our Dads...

Happy Father's Day to All Dads, and would be Dads!!!My Dad & I - June 2005. A year before his passing.

Tears of Happiness

Photos that brought Tears of Happiness in my eyes this morning....
Ace is flanked by Christine and Michael
Ace, Michael, Ate Flo, Christine & Roger (Ace's DadAndrew, Michael & sorry, not sure who?Ate Flo, Rowena & Kuya BenjieAte Flo, Kuya Benjie's wife, was kind enough to forward these photos to me... as I had previously mentioned, Ace is in America now doing his OJT, but before he starts the 3 month internship - he was able to take a drive down to Las Vegas with his Dad... in turn, he got to visit his cousins, Michael, Christine and Andrew.... first time they all got to meet.... which in turn brings much joys in my heart....
For more on Kuya Benjie's Family - Pls Click Here: "Blood Truly is Thicker Than Water"

"I Knew Him When..."

well, this one tops my Springtime Travel Itinerary -- for sure!!!

Watching Mr Obama's Inauguration on TV earlier today (feeling Patriotic here)... and was admiring Michelle Obama's gown -- Lo and Behold, all of a sudden I was getting emails from friends telling me that the gown is done by none other than a very good friend, Jason Wu -- actually one of my very first friends upon moving to Taipei.

Am not one to drop names but this one I cannot pass up on -- as am more excited and elated for The talented Mr Wu, himself! WHAT A COUP AND ACCOMPLISHMENT -- AND VERY MUCH WELL DESERVED!!! BRAVO!!!

Go Go Go Mr Wu... and Pls Do Remember Us - your Loyal Friends!!!
You can see more of Mr Wu's designs here: Jason Wu Fall 2008

tokidoki XMas Tree - I WANT ONE!!!

Boo Hoo... somebody beat me to a tokidoki themed XMas Tree...
even a HANNUKAH MENORAH to boot!!!!
Look at all these tokidoki goodies doubling as ornaments.... This is TRULY a tokidoki heavenly XMas!!!

Okay, am really not that upset about being beaten to a tokidoki themed XMas tree - as this is done at Royal T in Los Angeles, close by to the tokidoki offices. Royal T is a Cafe, Tea House, and from what I read, "a gallery full of Yoshitomo Nara, Takashi Murakami, Aya Nakano and a host of other equally awe-inspiring artists". YOWZA!!! It sounds like a MUST SEE place....
One can visit the tokidoki tree and Royal-T at:
8910 Washington Blvd
Culver City, CA 90232
(310) 559-6300