Curbside Stories

I've been seeing a lot of gorgeous dresses and gowns in Hollywood with origami folds.  Could this mean the Japanese art has won Hollywood invasion?   Photo courtesy of mystyle.com Here Camilla Belle (middle) is wearing a Giorgio Armani frock while Diana Ramirez and Rihanna are wearing a Stephane Rolland. If you want to sashay one of those origami dresses here are your splurge, save and steal options. SPLURGE   David Meester strapless origami dress at Neiman Marcus , $448.   SAVE   Voom Vanessa strapless origami dress at Shop Rumor , $216. This dress (in blue) was already worn by Guiliana Rancic and Kristy Flores. STEAL   Teez Me strapless origami dress at Dillard's , $69. 

Gwyneth Paltrow is the Queen of Jackets and Cardigans.  I like the way she mixes jackets and cardigans with couture dresses and results were stunning.  A few Hollywood celebrities has tried this but most of them failed miserably.   She paired this sparkling Versace minidress with a cardigan and the result was so cool.     She added more attitude to the white Calvin Klein dress with her Balmain blazer and Roger Vivier heels.     My favorite of them all is this beaded Balmain minidress that she wore with a jacket and a 4-inch Alexander McQueen heels. Blazers and jackets are all over the runway shows and I have found something that I would definitely want to see her wear.   The first time I saw this, her name was the first to enter my mind.  This ensemble from Blumarine Spring 2010 RTW collection became interesting because of the zipper details on the skirt and on the sleeves, this look can be worn in the office, the jacket may be worn with jeans and the skirt may be worn with a

Grandma has only days to live... she could be gone days after this blog and she could be gone even before the day ends.  The time she was diagnosed with brain cancer up to the time that I learned about her story, his only grandchild  looked after her. Grandma:  Come here boy, I have something very important to tell you. Grandson:  What is it Grandma? Grandma:  You know that you are the only relative I have and despite my condition, you never left me in one of those nursing homes for the sick and aged like me... and I thank you for that. Grandson:  That is nothing compared to the love and care you've given me since my parents died.  You are now my mother and I love you so much! Grandma:  Only He knows when I will be gone, I have already accepted it in exchange that He will take care of you in my behalf.  There are things that you didn't know of and I think this is the best time for me to tell it all to you. Grandson:  What are you talking about, Grandma? Grandma:  In yo

Created by Oatmeal I am not (yet) addicted to Facebook... the result confirms it.   I admit to signing in to my Facebook account first before checking my email and I do get worried if it is past my harvesting time... but I am not (yet) addicted to Facebook. I admit to having more than 10 apps in my account but I regularly play/maintain only 5 (Pet Society, Restaurant City, Farmville, Home Inn, Petville and Medical Meyhem) and I recently added Ponzi, Inc. as  one of my regular games. I admit to answering several surveys and quizzes in Facebook, in fact I used to check my good/evil status daily. I am not (yet) addicted to Facebook, I only have 193 friends. What is good about it is it is just so fun to catch up with old friends and tagging them on the oldest picture you could ever find. I am not (yet) addicted to Facebook... and I am in denial.

I like Hello Kitty when I was a kid... I once owned a pencil case, scissors, a bag and just about anything that an elementary kid would want to have to impress her classmates.  Immediately after I started having crush, my liking for Hello Kitty disappeared. As I was stumbling upon , I saw this picture. I know there are still adults who love Hello Kitty but would you go this far to showing your affection to the cute feline???  Please vote on the survey at the left and we will discuss this extreme liking one by one.  Here are other Hello Kitty products that fascinates me. Isn't Hello Kitty supposed to be wholesome?  And who in the world (men in particular) would want to own this gun?  Maybe this should be paired with a Hello Kitty camouflage, no?   The Hello Kitty vibrator AND Hello Kitty Blow Light sex toy for men!  There is nothing really unusual with the vibrator, it is the sex toy that really made me laugh. Hello Kitty Hell says the toy has a hole at the bottom whe

This is cute! To capture the artistry and magic of Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland , Urban Decay has launched Alice in Wonderland Book of Shadows that contains 16 eye shadows, eye shadow primer potion and eye pencils.  The set may be confused with a book and when you open it a scene from Alice in Wonderland pops up.  Get this set here .

My least favorite subject was Math and I think the highest grade that I got in all of my Math subjects is 87%... and that was in elementary.  If our teachers were more creative in their way of teaching especially in visual aids, I think I could have gotten a higher grade. All teachers out there, take a hint from the Math teacher in Biola University and I am sure your students will be running inside your classroom eager for their lessons.

Avatar replaced Titanic as the King of the (Movie) World earning as much as $1.895 billion and not only that, China has officially renamed their mountain Southern Sky Column to Avatar Hallelujah Mountain. The Chinese government actually said the Hallelujah Mountains of Pandora were actually the Southern Sky Column as a Hollywood photographer spent time taking pictures of the mountain back in 2008. We all know we couldn't be in Pandora but at least we could go to Zhangjiajie, China to see in awe this amazing work of nature.  If you are interested, you can book your flight here .

I believe makeup is one of the most important inventions of all time.  Need proof?  Look at the before and after pictures of the British Model Lily Donaldson.  Images courtesy of NY Magazine . Lily is already gorgeous sans the makeup but after the makeover for the runway show, she became a goddess.  The eye makeup made the wonders on the after picture.  This is what makeovers are supposed to do... to amplify the already existing beauty in a person.  This is also proof that heavy eye makeup needs to be paired ONLY with a lip gloss . To see other pictures of Ms. Donaldson, click here .

This is one of the many reasons why I don't lose hope for mankind.  The Dancing Inmates of Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center (CPDRC) in the Philippines are at it again, now dancing to the tune of Michael Jackson's This Is It. The inmates' first taste of fame was when they all danced to MJ's Thriller and with their success, they were visited by MJ's long-time choreographer Travis Payne together with Daniel Celebre and Dres Reid to teach them how to dance This Is It. Time and time again, this proves that even the nation's most notorious criminals can be molded into disciplined individuals.  This is one of the best ways to commemorate the King of Pop's invaluable contribution to the entertainment industry.  If he's still alive today, he'd be proud that these guys were able to pull off a great choreography to a great song.  Enjoy!

Photo from NY Magazine John Galliano is really pulling the fashion rope here!  He showcased the corsets for men during his Fall 2010 Menswear Collection . Corsets worn by women are sexy but corsets worn by men are simply hilarious and outrageous!  Why would a man wear a corset anyway??? ... To squeeze him below there???  I don't wanna see my employee in wearing a corset under his suit.  I couldn't imagine being with this guy in the boardroom.  I don't want any boxer to wear a corset to protect him from low blows.  I don't wanna see my man wearing a corset under his coat and sans the pants.  Sorry John, it takes my breath away... from laughing.

I have been hearing news about Kanye West's gal Amber Rose and her wild and out of this world sense of fashion .  Amber Rose is recently dressing a lot like Lady Gaga and I am not happy about it.  I am Lady Gaga fan but I do not despise people who wants to copy her style... Amber Rose's case is different. Here is Amber Rose in a desperate move to give justice to a sheer (almost invisible) dress and a nude undergarment... I can see her flower's petals peeking and gasping for air.  It hurts just by looking at it.   Lady Gaga has an outrageous fashion sense but her style makes her different from other performers out there.  Kids (even adults) shouldn't try this at home or anywhere else in the world but comparing the two pictures, she looks more tasteful.   In all fairness to Amber Rose, she also has her gorgeous red carpet moments  like this one in Costume Institute Gala at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 4, 2009 in New York City.  I hope she returns to her

I saw Avatar yesterday and it confirmed the news that most people who watched it felt sadness and disappointment... but it wasn't because the movie was bad but because the story revolves around man's greediness and never ending longing for power. Jake Sully was a crippled ex-marine who took over his twin brother's role in the Avatar project in hopes of walking again and finding his worth.  After months of training under Neytiri, the Na'vi's princess, Jake got access to their sacred places and he got their trust.  Being immersed in the ways of the Na'vis, Jake started to question his mission and this ordeal became even harder to resolve because he fell in love with Neytiri.  The question now is where would his loyalty be... to his own race whose primary intention in Pandora is to get the Unobtainium  by all means or to the Na'vis who understands and respects the value of every living creature? So, what part of the movie made me sad?  The scene that caug

What is appropriate to wear in the office depends on what kind of job you do.  If you are working in a bank, insurance company or any financial institution, wearing too bright colors for a dress and too many accessories is really unacceptable.  But, if you are working in an advertising firm which is a more relaxed office setting, colors are a great way to perk up your mood and your office's.  For the sake of generalization on how to look appropriate in the office, here are some pointers. SHOES 1. Never ever wear sneakers even if it is a washday. 2. Strappy sandals and slippers are a no-no.  If you want to bare your clean and polished toenails, peep-toe pumps will do the trick. 3. Do not wear overly high heels... unless you work as a stripper. 4. Animal print shoes has a borderline for tacky and chic.  It is tacky if you are wearing animal print shoes with animal print coat and animal print bag.  One animal print something is chic. 5.  Wearing any dirty shoes in the office or

It is American Idol season again and I am beginning to get hooked.  It is amazing that there are still a lot of talents waiting to be discovered.  I first got hooked with the show on Season 7, I love David Cook--he is brilliant... too brilliant that he made me like even more Mariah Carey's Always Be My Baby .  Who would've thought a man could sing it in a manly and sexy way.  Although my favorite from Season 8, Adam Lambert, did not win, I still adore him.  He is full of artistry and he never seems to disappoint his audience whenever he performs--remember his uber sexy AMA performance ?.  For me, his most memorable performance was his rendition of The Bee Gees' If I Can't Have You , his image slowly going down the stairs is still vivid in my mind up to this time that tears are now welling in my eyes. Several judges have left the show and the most recent was Paula Abdul... I was saddened.  She was considered the kindest judge of them all.  With Ellen DeGeneres repla

Photo courtesy of mystyle.com Fergie and Katharine McPhee has been spotted wearing tees with hand print.  Fergie looks like she's a mobster while Katharine's got a hippie vibe.  I am not saying this is a good trend to follow but if in case you want to own a shirt or two, consider these options:   SPLURGE This is 3.1 Phillip Lim is exactly the same as Katharine's.  Get this at Barney's for $150.00. SAVE Aside from this is only $26.55, you can also customize the shirt --change the message and the color of your shirt.  Get this at zazzle.com . STEAL American Eagle Outfitters Peace Rocks V-Neck Tee, $19.60 $14.95.

Pets are supposed to give its owner certain happiness, compassion and a sense of responsibility.  So, it was a shocker when I saw the USB Pet Rock in Think Geek .  The Pet Rock DOES NOT do the following: eat, drink, play, talk and move.  It just sits there on your table in all its glory.  These are the things the YOU CAN DO with it: serve it with plastic meals and pretend your pet is actually eating it, talk to it and listen carefully to what it says and walk with it at the nearest park to make it feel loved.  It is really not that hard to have a Pet Rock, just click here , spend $9.99, plug it in a USB port and in no time you will have your very own Pet Rock that will shower you with love. Gary Dahl "invented" the first ever Pet Rock back in the 70s and it was a hit, in fact, Neiman Marcus was the first to stock it.  All of a sudden, Mr. Dahl was earning a fortune. That was the 1970s. Whenever I think of a rock as a pet, it reminds me of Patrick the Starfish--Sp

I am partial to big watches regardless of the label but particular in the design.  I do not collect watches, in fact I only have five but I am proud that those five never disappoints me whenever I need them.  I am currently wearing a Guess two toned leather watch that my sister gave me last year. I am partial to big watches but I don't know exactly why.  Anyway, since I have been talking about big watches, here is a big Michael Kors watch that your man wouldn't dare wear.   Summer Leather Buckle Watch $200 $140 at shopbop.com There's masculinity in the design because of the four buckles and wide leather strap, but the cuff made this watch for women only.

I am not a gambler, the most participation that you could get from me is to play Bingo .  I learned how to play Bingo when I was in elementary, my grand parents together with my other relatives would play it every afternoon in our lawn.  Basically, Bingo time is one of our bonding times (really unusual, huh?!).  The unusual activity continues up to this time, different players but the same game rules. My lucky Bingo card. Last December, I was able to play Bingo during our Christmas party.  The price at stake is not that high but everybody was excited to join.  At first I was hesitant to buy a card thinking I am really poor at gambling and my pragmatic self tells me that the probability of winning a Bingo black out game decreases as the number of players increases.  But, I did not listen.  What am I to lose?  Play just for fun. The first number was called and then the second number and so on...  My two cards only needed one number each to complete the black out game... I could

This is so absurd... in all of It's In the Bag  list of the world's most expensive bags, I could not believe my eyes that Louis Vuitton's Urban Satchel Bag is on number 3. What you are seeing is not a trash bag from the dumpster... this urban satchel bag by Louis Vuitton sells for a whopping $150,000.  I was trying to analyze why this bag costs that much and for obvious reasons, the numerous packaging of brands from cigarette to gum is displayed all over and not to mention the shrimp tail.  I bet LV paid the rights to include these labels on to the bag.  Who would want to buy a bag as fugly as this???  It was reported that Ashley Olsen has already signed a multi-billion dollar contract to endorse the bag and there are rumors that Anna Wintour and  Victoria Beckham are bidding over who gets it.  The dropped names were not actually a shocker particularly Ms. Olsen.  She has failed me (and a million others) of her poor fashion choices despite her multi-million empire.  E

Dresses  will never be out of fashion no matter what season it may be and you can go from basic cuts or structured, plain or printed, fitted or flowing--indeed, it is purely a woman's dress. SPLURGE Carolina Herrera floral sheath dress , $1,990 at Neiman Marcus .  SAVE    Helene Berman floral sheath dress with bow detail on the waist, $228 at Nordstrom . STEAL   Floral belted cap sleeve dress , $79.95 $67.96 at NY & Company .

Here is another fabulous makeup palette from Sephora , the Glamorous 360 Deluxe Palette, your all in one makeup kit.  It is packed with 20 eyeshadow shades, 5 blush shades, 24 lip gloss shades, 2 lip gloss brushes, 2 double-ended applicators, powder and blush brush, built-in mirror and a sleek compact case.  At $36, this is truly a great deal.  To get your palette, click here .

According to the report of the Office of the National Drug Control Policy, prescription drug abuse among teens has reached its alarming rate at 2,500 teens per day for the age bracket of 12-17.  It is even alarming to know that prescription drugs like OxyContin (an opioid analgesic) and Vicodin (narcotic analgesic) -- are often sourced from family and friends. To solve this growing problem, Dr. Drew together with his team invented the Rx Locker --a locking storage device that is designed to hold up to four prescription pill bottles.  The special feature of this storage device is the combination lock protected lid so your medicines will be kept safe and private in your medicine cabinet and away from your kids. The Rx Locker is only one of the many ways to solve the growing problem in prescription drug abuse among teens.  Right knowledge and information are still the best defense against this growing problem. To get a full review and to order Dr. Drew's Rx Locker, click h