Looking Hot So Far!!!

2nd day of January and am still feeling the joys of XMas...  

Weather's been great..  Chilly breezes with the sun shining..  Enough to wake up in a good mood...

FIrst Selfie of the Year... and so it begins again!!!

 

First day was spent with Juju...  Running around here and there - starting with seeing GioGio off at the airport.. Watched a few planes fly off and took the obligatory shot with Open-chang...  Then it was off to TRU just to check out the latest goodies...

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2nd of January!!!

Today started off pretty good, too...  Great weather...  

And a couple of surprise packages in the mail!!!

December issue of the Philippine's Men's Magazine, GARAGE, with tom Rodriguez of My Husband Lover's fame on the cover...   and as an added bonus, burning up the back cover with his newest endorsement ad, for Bench Body....  I knew I wanted this issue when I saw someone posted about it on FB...  but am so glad my cousin found me a copy and sent it on to me....  HOTNESS!!

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With the magazine package, I got another box that contained 3 of the most precious Rosaries from the Holy Land...  gifts from friend, Isabel Casas....  such a sweet thing to think of me when she visited Jerusalem a couple of months back....  Thank You so very much!!!  They will make great additions to my ever - growing collection of rosaries....

Hump Day Special!

Can't believe I have actually been able to religiously follow this GMA Telesrye...  Still obsessed and Amazed and at times, Baffled, with the twist n turns of the show - but still am enjoying it enough to follow along and ride through it all - no matter how plausible and predictable things might get....  they still manage to surprise now and again....  and the ACTING never fails - either just right on from the leads - or over the top from the supporting casts....  

Of Course having these two eye candies, Tom Rodriguez and Dennis Trillo, help a whole lot!!!

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A few of my FAVE My Husband's Lover moments.

My Husband's Lover Bois!!!

Just had to get this in before Hump Day goes by...  Am totally obsessing on this new series...  

And of course, the Men who makes my week nights: Dennis Trillo, Tom Rodriguez, & Victor Basa!!!

Oh the Drama!!!  The storyline between Eric and Vince are heating up once more....  Yeah!!!

Soooooo Thankful I can catch this on YOU TUBE!!!

REVENGE is SWEET!

One of the Guilty Pleasures and yes, somewhat of an ESCAPE for me when am in Manila tending to everything else going on is to watch DVDs of movies and TV Shows I am missing out on... and not having Cable at home, nor time really, I really do miss out on a lot....  Must rely  word of mouth from friends recommending them to Facebook posts boasting about shows.....  Mags....  etc....  just to keep up....  and THANK GOD for them, or else I completely miss a good show...  and THANK GOD, even more, for DVDs - especially here in the Philippines, one can get a copy of just about anything....   

REVENGE is such a show...   COMPELLING DRAMA....  multi layered characters....  great writing....  and beautiful, sexy and talented cast that keeps you glued....  and we are talking multi generations here....  Madeline Stowe looking as luminous as I remember her from The Last of the Mohicans (am sure, Daniel Day Lewis will still make the same promise as he did in the movie: "I Will FInd You!") and Emily Van Camp of Brothers and Sisters fame - all that promise she showed in the just cancelled show - delivers here.....    and she has such a fragile beauty you are compelled to watch her and agonize with her (even when she is doing bad things - justified or not...)   They both have such EXPRESSIVE EYES on cannot  help it but be HYPNOTIZED!

And the supporting casts are noteworthy, too....  from the HOTTIES that are sure to flood the Net and various publications...   to familiar faces....  even Super Model Amber Valetta is in and out of the show - from the eps I have seen so far!!!   Possibly the prettiest cast on TV right now - well, after The Vampire Diaries, that is!

The Gorgeous Cast in a FUN & SEXY Promotional Photoshoot

Be@rbricks Addiction!

yep...  as if I needed to take on another thing to take up my time, I have now started a new blog spotlighting one of my Obsessions, Be@rbricks...  I figured, with the growing number of them coming to live with me - they needed their own showcase - so if you are a fellow Be@rbrick Lover or just in love looking at Vinyl Cuties - do check out the new page....

Rudi X Be@rbricks

2 more Rosaries Added to the COLLECTION!!!

I was able to add 2 more to the ever-growing collection of rosaries.... these two mean even more to me as they were purchased by myself during my travels... with one being from St. Peter's Cathedral of the Holy City of VATICAN!!!!

...and from The Church of St Nizier in Lyons, France

For More of my Rosary & Saints Collection - Pls Click Here

CROSS iHeart.

David just got back from his 10 day Europe Tour (his current OCCUPATIONAL HAZARD) of Czechoslovakia, Austria & Germany... brought back lots of GOODIES: chocolates, cookies, glasses, wine & cheeses, plus clothing from ZARA & H&M.... and even LOUIS VUITTON wallets (alas, not for us - these are bought as a FAVOR for a friend of his... hahahahahaha...)but the thing that I LOVE MOST - from all that he brought back - is the silver CROSS he got me from St. Michael's Basilica in Mondsee, Austria... quite simple really... just your ordinary black leather rope and the silver pendant of a silver cross... though I have seen this style before, I do not have any in my collection - yes, another long time OBSESSIONS of mine: Rosaries & Saints... along with a Pamphlet from the Basilica... loaded with photos of beautiful figurines/statues of Golden Gothic Saints - just right up my alley...

Truly a WELCOME ADDITION to my collection of Crosses from all over the world...

Above Photo: Some of My Rosary Collection

he's a FIGHTER!

Newest introduction in the tokidoki X Be@rbrick world is this 100% Fighter...

He should be out and ready to fight any time now...

so keep checking tokidoki.it for more news on him and other tokidoki goodiess...

Tickled Pink!

Get ready to Rumble!!!
The Pink Variation of the tokidoki Tiger Series is Finally in the House!!! This little one gave me a bit of a hard time, got me on the run scrounging around for him... I got the other three in Taipei - but this one was SOLD OUT... then I tried to get some friends to pick him up in MANILA but to no avail also... Good Thing the tokidoki shop in Los Angeles still have it - and I am now able to complete the set. Extra THANKS to Mary for helping me get Pinky here....
Just glad he is not too pink... just the right shade of PINK for me....
Soon Pinky gets to join the rest of the TIGER Tribe!!!

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

For We Need A Little XMas!

Since yesterday's post was a bit of a downer.. I thought I would turn it around a bit and post something light and XMassy... First a photo of our Little XMas corner here in Taipei, it's only little as we spend our XMasses in Manila each and every year.... so it is just this tiny gold wired tree, a Princely coin bank, and a couple of early XMAS presents from Juliana already.... ow for the real Xmas Decor:
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Not once - ever since I moved out of my parents' home - did I repeat the same theme for my annual XMas Tree.... it was just something that I did and became somewhat of a TRADITION for me... must be because growing up I kept having to put up the same tree and decorations each year....

Over the years I have done various themes - some turned out nicely (like my ODE to BAXTER -- POLAROIDS of him with my different friends who got to meet him and gold DOGGIE Biscuits) and some were disastrous (like my RECYCLING theme (everyone thought it looked like TRASH!)... i have had them in green, white and even black! Hung them on the wall, upside down from the ceiling, you name it.... oh well, YOU WIN SOME, YOU LOSE SOME... no matter, as I am pretty much happy with whatever I do...

This year, in Manila, am doing GREEN... all because of the Paper Mache' Holy Family I found at Rustan's back in OCT.... so I built on that... actually am still building on that -- as my tree is not quite finished yet... LOLs... so am sharing some photos here....

Last Year's COPPER colored theme:

Music Playlist at MixPod.com

..it's raining -- little gifts...

Met up with Juliana today -- 4th consecutive rainy day that it is here in Taipei -- to help her get a quickie VISA.... then a lite meal at MOS Burger and while waiting for our food, she surprised me with a few things she had gotten me from her recent trip to TOKYO.... Nice Surprises on this otherwise GLOOMY & WET DAY!!!

The two Kewpie dolls dress as Disney characters are just the cutest... they are vinyl and their heads wobbles... there are 8 different ones in the series: I got a Mickey Mouse and a Daisy Duck ones... others are Pooh, Donald, Minnie, Piglet, 101 Dalmatian Dog and there is a BLIND ITEM... Not sure if they are sold here in Taiwan or if they will come here, but am pretty POSITIVE I will be hunting down the rest to complete this collection.
(Counter Clockwise: Daisy & Mickey Wobblies; my friend, Juliana; Juliana's cute Blythe Pen; & Me--the HAPPY recipient of the gifts.)
Cute Poster Art @ MOS for their 2009 Calendar

tokidoki in San Francisco!!!!

Yep, Simone Legno, creator of one of my OBSESSIONS, tokidoki, makes an appearance in the Bay Area on the 15th of November, 2008. It will be held at Macy's in Union Square....

Haaays, wish I could be there & attend!!! I MISS MY HOMETOWN!!!

"It's Really Not the Size That Matters...

...it's what you do with it... REALLY!!"

Taiwan was once the world's leading manufacturer and exporter of bicycles but in the mid-1990s due to dumping charges and relocations of factories to China where production costs are much lower - business basically tumbled down. Though China now is the world's major supplier of low-cost bicycles -- according to the economics ministry, Taiwan retains its edge in high-end products such as racing-style, mountain and folding bikes.

Yep, you READ that right... Folding Bikes!!! The folding bike, otherwise known as "xiao che" in Mandarin or "little foldable", weighs around 10 kilograms (22 pounds).

Pacific Cycles, a Taoyuan-based exporter, began selling its signature folding bikes at home in 2005, and since then they have become popular with city dwellers for their lightweight and convenient features. According to a recent interview with marketing manager Max Yeh, despite a 66 percent price hike to 50,000 Taiwan dollars (about US$1500.00 each) per bike, domestic sales are estimated to increase by 100 percent this year.

Could it be the failing economy -- domestically and worldwide??? People trying to reduce their expenses by not driving - what with the high rising costs of Petrol. Or maybe the growing environmental awareness of the Taiwanese people -- the wish for less traffic jams and cleaner air. Even the Taiwanese government has promised to expand cycling routes and facilities, in a bid to promote cycling as part of its "green policy" aimed at saving energy and reducing carbon emissions. The latter I totally LOVE and AGREE with WHOLEHEARTEDLY.

I can only hope that, like in so many North American & European cities, cycling will become a way of life -- and not just another passing TRENDY fad. And since am already in a wishful thinking mode - I hope also that the trend will spill over to other Metropolitan Asian cities like Manila, Bangkok, etc....

"till death do us part"

More tokidoki fun!!! This was sent my way by a friend who knows I LOVE tokidoki... very cute animation and GREAT use of all the characters in tokidoki world!!! ENJOY and Have a Great Weekend!!!

tokidoki wallpapers FREE!!!

As you all know, tokidoki & sharing are two of the many things I LOVE in this life... okay, my Obsessions, really... so am always happy to find a few things to add to the collection and share -- especially when they are FREE!!! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.... Log on here to see some really cool tokidoki wallpapers to use -- and let the FUN begins:
http://www.playphone.com/Wallpapers/tokidoki

...almost....

...but almost doesn't count!!...met this cutie over the weekend... this BEAGLE PUP is only 2 months old!!!
HE WAS SOOOOO PLAYFUL....
i was able to play with him for half an hour - till we had to leave.... I think he could sense that I was really into him, so he just kept playing and licking me....

how I wish I could have taken him home with me....

Another Visit to Mom's

Back from my monthly visit to check up on my Mom... as always, it is a PLEASURABLE one for me as not only do I get to see how my Mom is doing, I also get to hear more stories of my childhood, as well as those of my siblings....

This time around, David tagged a long and was kind enough to not only bring OOLONG TEA but to also give pointers (to everyone's delight!)in making it properly... to get the most of the tea....

Before going to my Mom's for lunch though - we got to stop by ANTIPOLO and visit the famously known Antipolo Church.... it is said to be the church where traveler's must go to before embarking on their journeys... to pray for a safe journey.... I was even lucky enough to have been able to buy the Church's actual Patron Saint, The Virgin of Antipolo, to add to my collection.... that is always a treat....

Tales From My Mom - Believe it or Not!

Ever since I can remember, I have had an affinity for Rosaries and Saintly Figures -- maybe it can be attributed to the fact that growing up Catholic, we are always obligated to attend masses at least 2 or three times a week... Sundays without fail, no matter where we may happen to be at the time... so over the years I have gotten to visit, attend masses , at various churches around the world... some are ornately beautiful, while some are plain and simple... bare minimum even - with just a giant wooden CROSS at the altar... But no matter how richly decorated or simple they might be - I always find them a beautiful, peaceful place to be in... to contemplate, meditate and of course, ask for guidance... Through all these visits to churches -- I have come to love and even collect, Rosaries and Figures (Angels and Saints)... I find looking at them and collecting them very comforting and even relaxing....

There are three saints that have always attracted me more - St Christopher as he is the Guardian Saint for Travelers; the Angel Gabriel - nuff said; and St Francis of Asissi - him, because of his love for all creatures - great and small.... he is often depicted with a dove and a deer, sometimes others... this last visit with my MOM, I learned that I have more back story connecting me to this saintly figure.

It seems that when I was born, I had a big bump on my head... my Mom did not knew how I got it... nor could the doctors explain.... then a woman came in and talked with my Mom for a bit... gave her a little prayer book with a little icon in it, and instructed my Mom to pray to him, and rub this on the bump on my head a few times a day, while praying... not sure now, how many times each day.... for a couple of days the woman visited my Mom, and baby Rudi, in the hospital room... checking up on my bump.... and they were both happy that the bump on my head was disappearing... my Mom asked her for her name so that she could find her and return this item to her before leaving... she told my Mom not to worry as she comes by every morning to deliver bread to the hospital... and went on to tell my MOM to keep the prayer book with the icon in it... she told her that she must keep it and pray to it whenever I am sick - and eventually pass it on to me and I can pray to it for what might be ailing me....

The morning I was being released from the hospital, my Mom searched for the woman to thank her and say her goodbye... but she was nowhere to be found... my Mom asked the nurses and her doctor for help locating the woman - and she was told by everyone that there is no such woman in the hospital.... this caused a sudden commotion in the hospital as well , and everyone wanted to be able to see, touch and even have a piece of the prayer book... my Mom did not even question it all... she just took the woman's appearance as heaven sent.... and had kept the prayer book and icon all these years...

Fast forward to the present, my Mom is getting older and getting sick a lot... so this last visit she decided to pass on to me this prayer book... it is now quite tattered and even torn in the middle... the icon inside is a bit broken up now..... but one look and you will see that the figure holds a dove and it is in fact, St. Francis of Asissi. (See photo above of my newly acquired St Francis... below him is the actual prayer book that my Mom passed on to me.)

Twelve Little Cuties!!!!

Finally!!! DONE!!!!With Persistence and lots of BEGGING I finished and actually got all 12 of them... and just in time as the Program is ending soon.....

For a minute there I was getting worried as this guy, The Monkey King was the last elusive one to get... I thought I was going to have the Monkey King Series sans the Monkey... lols.....