Real Living's 10th Anniversary Issue is out!

Words cannot express how joyful I am to share our magazine's July issue with you. It's out 10th Anniversary issue, and with this milestone comes a new look that I hope everyone will love:

I can say it's a packed issue; each section is filled with tips and ideas on how you can spruce up your home, whether you're getting professional help or not. Plus, the photos are to-die-for. Flipping each page will surely be a visual feast. 

So what are you waiting for? Head to the nearest bookstore, newsstand, or supermarket and grab a copy. It's definitely worth reading and keeping. :) 

When giant M&Ms visit

Yesterday afternoon, we were visited by adorable creatures at the office: oh so cute M&Ms mascots! :) I just got back to the office from accomplishing tasks outside, when I saw some sort of a commotion in one of the magazine rows. And there they were! Life-size M&Ms! Hahaha! I love their bright colors. And oh, did I say they were so cute?

These mascots went to the office because of some promo. We would vote which among the M&Ms colors we like best. But I guess no one really paid much attention to that. And of course, everyone just HAD to take a photo with them.

Aren't they adorable? Sure, celebrity sightings are common in the office, with us working in the magazine industry. And just last week and a few weeks ago, there were go-sees for Cosmo's Bachelor Bash - meaning lots of good-looking guys just kept on coming in. But nobody threw everyone out of their seats for a photo op like what these M&Ms mascots did.

That was fun - just a tiny but oh so welcome way of perking up or day. :)

Late

I was so late in almost all my commitments for today. The first one took so long to finish. Hence, everything else got delayed. They were shoots in different locations, and I was late in all of them. I was so ashamed and frustrated with myself.

Traffic was bad. The heat drained my energy. When we were done with all the photo shoots, I thought I was also done with these unfortunate events. But no! On our way back to the office, our vehicle malfunctioned. At the middle of a busy road. And to top it all off, when the vehicle was moved to the sidewalk, it began to rain! Oh goodness! Was today an extension of Friday the 13th? Was it mercury retrograde?

And to add to this frustration, I wasn't able to meet my deadlines this month, except I think for two articles. But the rest, I wasn't satisfied because it took me so long to finish them. I still have pending assignments, and I'm so tired, I feel weak, and can I just faint and lose consciousness?

I know all these will be over. They have to be. This Friday. Or else, there won't be any copy of our magazine in newsstands next month. That's the thing with working in the publishing industry. Days just go on and on and on and on. Deadlines are always there, whether you're feeling perfectly well or not. And as in every industry, things don't get done on their own. Because if they do, I'd probably do a dozen cartwheels out of joy, even if I don't know how to do one.

New calendar, new dates

"Mabuti pa ang kalendaryo, may date. Ako wala!"

So goes a joke I and my single friends back in college would crack whenever we would rant about the our non-existent love lives. This is usually followed by another joke, which says, "Mabuti pa ang Paranaque, may BF. Ako, wala!" Followed by a hearty laugh.

I remembered this exchange of corny jokes when I received a 2011 desk calendar from Daiichi Colour Inc.,which partners with stock photography resource Corbis Images, this afternoon. I was pleased with it because it came at a right time. I need a desk calendar because I lose track of dates when I don't have one. Any desk calendar could do, but I want a pretty one. I want it to have inspiring images so I could be inspired to work. Unfortunately, I couldn't find one that is reasonably priced according to my cheapskate standards.

The kind of calendar that I want is exactly what I got this afternoon.


I want inspiring images, right? So poof, it became Coco Crunch inspiring images are what I got! One breathtaking Corbis photo for each month.


After marveling at the calendar, I put it to use immediately, crossing out the dates that have passed and placing it on its rightful spot on my desk.


Yey! Good thing I haven't bought a desk calendar yet. Maybe the reason why I found other pretty calendars in the bookstore overpriced (and therefore not buy them) because one will just come my way... for free. :) Talk about small surprises.

I hope this calendar will attract good vibes for me this year #gawindawbangluckycharm. Hahaha! And may every X mark I will be putting on the dates that have passed signify tasks that I will finish with flying colors.

Girl on TV

After the guesting in three different radio stations last Monday to promote our January-February 2011 issue, I guested in a TV show yesterday afternoon. It's a taped episode for QTV's Full Time Moms, and it's going to be aired on Monday, January 17.

So what did I do? Secret. Let's just say I demonstrated something for their "Handy Moms" segment (I'm not yet a mom, by the way hehe), and I spent my Monday night preparing for it to see if what I would demonstrate would work. I felt like I was doing a practicum for an E.P.P/H.E.L.E (Edukasyong Pantahanan at Pangkabuhayan / Home Economics and Life Education).

TV guestings, or any form of speaking to a mass audience, make me nervous, thanks a lot to stage fright. Or is it really stage fright? Maybe it's a small dose of stage fright underscored by my lack of confidence in my speaking skills. Maybe it's just all in my head.

So how did my guesting turn out? I guess I'll leave it up to you on Monday to find out. Meanwhile, here's a photo of me with the show's hosts:

From left: Yours truly, Christine Jacob-Sandejas, and Suzi Entrata-Abrera

And since I ended the segment with promoting our magazine, might as well do it here, too! :)


Please grab a copy of our latest issue, featuring the color trends for 2011 and loads of decorating tips to welcome the new year. Available in bookstores and newsstands for P140. :)