WORLD PREMIERE: That Jumper Shorts and That Polka Dotted Midriff Top

In an attempt to look younger during my sweet 29th [advance] birthday bash with the cousinhood, close friends Atong and Chad and potentially significant Waldo, I decided to world premiere the jumper shorts and polka dotted midriff top from my recent ukay ukay shopping. As if I truly look my age! Thanks to my daily dose of internal jogging called laughter, vegetarian diet and my sunny disposition, I don't really have to spend much on anti-ageing products.

Them cousins find it customary to spend birthday celebrations - or any gathering for that matter - in Central. I realized it would be a good venue to introduce new people with old ones and an excellent start to get very tipsy before we all head off to this week's Irie Sunday in B-Side.

Love this jumper shorts and polka dotted top combo!


High-cut Chucks gave my attire that old school vibe, betraying my real age!


Another debut: my rasta hoops! Old pasalubong from Danna during her trip to Mindoro last year.


My birthday challenge from the Central waiters!


Here...we...go!


Birthday cake!


I feel so loved! Awwww.


Birthday kiss!


The cousinhood and my friends: off to The Collective!

By the time we're all walking slowly to the next party place, my heart was pounding wildly. The cousinhood, save for my brother Lec, are no hardcore reggae fans let alone enthusiasts. Will they have fun, too? Besides, I'm not wearing anything rasta, except for my earrings that my hair tend to cover. Why didn't my midriff top have anything red on it? Not that I'm having buyer's remorse. Maybe the better question is: how could this birthday girl NOT wear anything red?

One love! Jah love!


This is it! Live music, kindred spirits!


And we join the par-tey!

To my surprise, my beloved cousins were already making plans to come back as soon as we started swaying to the third track. Their sweaty faces were indeed portrait of merriment and everything beyond my expectation. Plus, they hit it off with my other friends. That really made my night extra special.

I can tell Atong is very happy!


Where's Waldo?

Central photos by Chad Barreyro.
Irie Sunday photos lifted here.

Lipstick of the Day: Human Heart Nature's Island Kiss + Colour Collection's Golden Goddess

It's supposedly Saturday! Considering how tiresome this week had been, this Curacha actually preferred to stay at home, apologize for being unable to meet Claire for her birthday/benefit gig and cuddle our spoiled furball named Johann all night. When I received my youngest cousin's birthday invite midweek, I already know they won't accept any excuses. After all, we can't gather in my place peacefully with Johann around. He may look super cute and all, but he's one unfriendly, sex-starved monster.

Outfit of the day: Ayoko mag-brown!

Realizing it's one humid evening, I decided to look for this brown Versace dress (don't you just love ukay ukay shops?) for its thin fabric. It matches my new and surprisingly tiny chocolate brown bag (tiny for my reputation) and overused bronze flats. The best finisher for this monochromatic ensemble? Bronze lips! So I combined my tinted lip balm and Tupperware's Golden Goddess lipstick (can you believe it?). Special shout out to my Tupperware lady at work!

Human Heart Nature's tinted lip balm called Island Kiss.
Don't panic! It's organic!


Colour Collection Glam Edition Metallic Lipstick in Golden Goddess. Photo snatched from Jes Roque


That mandatory solo photo


And that signature liyad pose


Read my lips!


Look how it shines in the dark!


Judith in pink, Minnie in red and moi in bronze lips!

Ok, ok. I bet you notice how drowsy I looked in some photos so far. At the risk of sounding defensive, I just downed one bottle of Tanduay Ice and asked for iced tea slush next. After my unexpected gag show moment during the last cousinhood gathering for Minnie's 25th beerday, I realized my getting-healthier body can't take as much alcohol anymore.

See how my lipstick somehow matched Central's iced tea slush? Yeah, I don't drink anymore!


The cousinhood!
Left row: Zeze, Yumi,Leck Leck and Deck Deck
Right row: Moi, Minnie and her high school friend Judith
Absentees: siblings Mac Mac (in the Middle East) and Kay (too wasted in a separate session),siblings James and Jiraene (strict ang parents) and my brother Louie (sadyang anti-social).


The elders Madame Minerva and Ate [toooot]


Ang ganda ng lahi!


With the debutante. 18 na pala si Zeze!

It just occurred to me that Zeze just turned 18. I remember how she served as my mini-me during my own 18th birthday party. [I know, I know. But my dad insisted. Unica hija daw ako eh.] We were wearing matching gowns and she was seated nearby during the entire program. The mini-me is now a lady! And she's leaving for Guam in the near future! [insert sobs here].

Photos by Chad Barreyro.