I first became aware of Aussie rocker Ben Lee‘s music via the album “Breathing Tornados” 9 years ago ((aka the Claire Danes years)), way before Grey’s Anatomy ladled out Catch My Disease for global consumption, and since then he was always one of the artists whose releases I would anticipate. I can’t say that I like all of his songs — there are a few that I just don’t get — but I like the earnestness of his music in general, and in my opinion the albums “Breathing Tornadoes”, “Awake is the New Sleep”, and “Hey You, Yes You” have produced some really good pop rock gems. ((Some of my favorites in no specific order are No Room to Bleed, Gamble Everything For Love, Away With the Pixies, Cigarettes Will Kill You, Pop Queen, and We’re All In This Together.))
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So anyway I was able to get an advance copy ((Sigh I love the internet.)) of his 2007 album “Ripe” (slated for release on September 18, er today) and was pleasantly treated to what I think is his BEST work to date, I kid you not ((That is, if you like happy music like I do. 🙂)). Lyrically and melodically, none of the melancholy in his previous, post-Claire album is present and what you will hear is a chirpy Ben, singing happily away about what might be mundane to some — the birds and the bees, American television, Jay-Z, and love sweet love — but with an apparent depth and soulfulness that merits repeated playbacks. Like the title implies, he demonstrates that he is indeed “Ripe”: now less experimental arrangement-wise, riskier lyrics-wise, and obviously ready to offer his heart again. Yet, like anyone who’s been hurt, he exercises caution:
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So say you’ll stay
Promise I won’t go
There’s just one thing
I really need to know
Is this how love’s supposed to feel?
Is this how love’s supposed to feel?
“Is this how love’s supposed to feel?”
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But submits to his heart in the end.

I’m tired of being alone
I wanna take you home
“Home”
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It’s a feel-good offering and a great album to play over and over (like I’ve been doing this past couple of weeks) while working or driving ((or, say, whiling away time at Facebook.)).
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My personal picks are Numb, Ripe, Is This How Love’s Supposed to Feel, Birds and Bees — a cute duet with, gasp, Mandy Moore!, the very catchy What Would Jay-Z Do? and Sex Without Love, and the impossibly romantic Home and Love Me Like The World is Ending. ((Gadzooks, I almost wrote down the entire tracklist. That’s how much I love the album.))
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On that note, why don’t I leave you with a video of one of my favorite tracks.

Sorry for the lack of updates, too many things IRL ((in real life, lest you’ve forgotten)) were keeping my hands full.

Most notably, our bi-annual labor of love:
The new Wedding Essentials (July-December 2007) issue is out, and has actually been out for a while now. In case you haven’t seen it yet, be on the lookout for one of these four covers.

Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, Something Blue
Cover photos by Pat Dy

It’s also our thickest issue to date, this one clocks in at over 300 pages!
Here’s a taste of what’s inside:

Highlights:
– Four new dream themes that represent wedding traditions. Be amazed at what our local event stylists can do to make the wedding of your dreams come true.
– Check out our WE Discoveries section and know new talents WE found and are proud to share with you.
– Don’t know where to hold your wedding yet? “5 Star Receptions” is a wonderful article by Zoe Gabe on why a hotel might still be the IT place for you.
– WE’s little beauty wonder Tatin Yang helps solve your beauty dilemmas- fast and quick. It’s so good even WE’re hooked!
– Introducing a hip new celebration concept: Creative Cocktails.
– Delectable Menagerie. Sweet additions to your wedding feast by Candice Lopez Quimpo

PLUS:
Fabulous fashion editorials: Love in Lomo (colorful dreamy lomographs by Jake Verzosa and At Maculangan for Lomo Manila), A Day at the Carnival (shot on location at EK by Keith Dador), and The Vibrant Colors of the Sinulog Festival (a fashion spread shot on location at the Sinulog Fiesta by Wesley Villarica enhanced graphics-wise by Nico & Katwo Puertollano) ((Many thanks to our pals Rex + Jois for hooking us up with them!)).

And to our dear friends and readers: watch out for this year’s WE Beautiful Weddings, it’s due out in October. 🙂

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Pretty please join me in congratulating one of my bestest friends Sheila for winning her first Palanca! She’s actually won a load of international advertising awards already so this is simpy icing on the cake but still, awards are always nice to have — right, Shei? 🙂 You can read her winning entry here ((It’s such a feel-good, heartwarming story! You’ll see why it won.)). Check her blog from time to time too to see what goes on in a multi-award-winning brain. 😉

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There’s good news for all of us QC-dwellers: we don’t have to make the trek to Ortigas or Paranaque just to get our hands on pretty party dresses anymore! My dear friend Tippi‘s Pret-a-Party line is now available at The Ramp in Crossings at Trinoma. Now isn’t that sweet? Tips is definitely one of the most creative designers out there so please go and check out her stuff. 🙂

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Arn & I managed to sneak in a bit of R&R when we hied off to Dumaguete ((My dad is an Outstanding Alumnus of Silliman University so we got to tour the campus too.)) and Siquijor with my family to attend a cousin’s wedding.

They’re such beautiful, peaceful little towns. Do yourselves a favor and plan to visit them at least once in your lifetime. 🙂

I have a confession to make: ever since Twitter invaded my life, I’ve been too lazy to update the normal way. But rather than let this webspace go to waste ((And yes, it’s been paid for til the end of the year.)), here’s one big fat update coming up.

So since my last entry,

1. we’ve come out with a special issue of WE called Wedding Essentials Destinations.

It’s still the same, good ol’ WE but it’s a stand-alone issue that features dream wedding and honeymoon destinations in the Philippines: Baguio, Boracay, Batangas, Palawan, Tagaytay, Cebu, Tarlac, Quezon, Davao, and Cavite plus real destination weddings, fashion spreads and articles on planning out-of-town weddings. The magazine is available at all leading bookstores and mag stands for P200. Click here for a larger image of the cover.

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2. I opened my new shop, The Paper Basket ((using some of the earnings from Poptastic. Cafepress is so very worth it, the shops actually pay for themselves)). Paper Basket sells pretty patterned notecards & journals, funky wall clocks and other cool gifts that are unique to the store.

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Be sure to check back every once in a while because new items and designs are being added all the time! 🙂

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3. Arn and I went to Singapore with his family and stayed there for a week.

More photos here.

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My dear friend Neva is behind skin care line Leyende and she makes the decadent skin care products herself from organic and all-natural ingredients from all over the world. Isn’t that amazing? She’s a writer too so expect nothing but the most creative product names: No Rumple Silk Skin Butter, Smoothie Operator bath & shower creams, Kiss, Kiss, Balm, Balm Lip Balm, and many more. I personally use Smoothie Operator in “Norte” and Clean Slate Multitasker ((Thank you dear Nev!)) everyday and I’m addicted to them! They smell heavenly and they leave my skin soft and clean without the greasy feeling. I actually can’t wait to use them up so I can try the other scents and products. 😉 For details on how to order, please visit the site.

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I’ve also been staying up late the past months watching all the seasons of Felicity ((I’ve missed this show!)), episodes of Veronica Mars ((officially on it’s last season *sob*)), and Heroes <-- OMG did you watch the finale? Wasn't it awesome? "Call me Noah", woot! Leave a message to discuss if you like. 🙂