TOPAZ HORIZON

Vince and I attended the Sony Vaio launch party the other night at the Manila Peninsula Hotel. I was glad to see that the new laptop computers of Sony are quite colorful. My regular readers know I seriously considered getting the pink Sony Vaio CS sometime ago. A lot of you advised against it so I ended up with my HP Mini--which I adore.

I did get reminded of how I wanted a Vaio when I saw the metallic pink Vaio W (below) and the new Vaio CS in pink crocodile leather. Ooooh, I swear I kinda salivated and, with Sony offering us media people a rare offer of 50% discount (!!!), I almost whipped out the credit card (yes, I'm a credit card holder again, despite what I said).

However, when I got home, there was my lovely elegant black HP Mini waiting for me. I'm in love with my HP Mini. But now Vince just told me HP has launched a pink one. Oh dear! It's so pretty!I want it!

Hi everybody! After my recent picture-heavy posts, I'm going to rest and just be text-heavy today.

So been away for a week. I'm still alive. Barely made it on Wednesday--a super migraine as big as Manila hit me at 2 PM and by 8 PM, I could barely see, or even stand up. By 9 PM, and this time I had gotten home, Vince wanted to bring me to the ER; he said I looked ashen. But I figured all I needed was complete silence and darkness and a very thick blanket. Oh, and a mighty strong pain killer. Got knocked out as soon as I hit the pillow. I was fine the next morning. Thank goodness! That was a nightmare since I was at the printing press the entire day doing final editing on the August issue. So, my OK! readers, if you spot some typos in next month's issue, I apologize.

Before and after that nightmare, I've been incredibly busy. So busy I haven't had time to even cook (unlike my darling friend Mariel who I truly do envy now). It's been fast food every single day for the last two weeks. Michael Jackson's death had a lot to do with it as we pulled out stories to make way for his tribute--which we had to constantly update now that the toxicology report's out and his death is being treated as a homicide.

I've also been going to Aesthetic Science for Reshape treatments--I didn't do the Mesotherapy anymore because I got scared when I heard it swells you up. Well, joke's on me--Reshape also causes some swelling and so the tummy I was hoping to get rid of is now bigger than ever (hence no photos!). Everyone thinks I'm bloody pregnant. I've been exercising, too, to help the Reshape along. The doctor did say I needed to watch my diet on top of the exercising and treatment, but though I've been getting referrals for the best diet pills out there, I just can't bring myself to diet when I'm just 110 lbs. Yes, even though I subsist on fast food, I'm still underweight. Sigh. Here's hoping the swelling will go down soon and I'll be rid of this strangely swollen tummy.

Aside from the bad news, it's been a week of happy stuff, too. I had gone to a flurry of events, wrote (yey! I'm writing again!), and received some fabulous things in the mail. I'll post updates soonest. Will bombard you even. Let me just go through this cold cold rainy Friday. Now off to do my Hip-Hop Abs! See ya later!

Aha, you guys really enjoyed the posts on the OK! staff photo shoot! Don't know what I'm talking about? Just scroll down for the fun!

I'm posting a few more photos here so you can have another insider's look at what goes on behind a shoot. Then I can delete these photos to free up my HP Mini's computer memory. I've found a lot of fun pics from many years ago that I think you'll chuckle over. Now, onto the last few scenes from behind the staff shoot:

Those gadgets are not phones. Here, the photographer's assistant checks if the lighting and contrast are correct. Lana doesn't appreciate being the guinea pig. But she sure looks fierce!

Ogie, the hairstylist, touches up my hair while Nikki, the stylist, adds a few more binder clips at the back of my dress to cinch my waist and hips. Sonny, our art director, will Photoshop the creases in the dress later on. If he thinks I need a smaller waist, he'd also trim the photo later. He's always complaining I don't have a waist. Well, at least he never complains about my face!

Sonny coaches Kristine on how to do the best pose. His tip: "If the pose hurts, you got it!" And he'll make sure you hold that pose till your muscles start screaming. It's not at all easy so I don't envy models. Their job may look glamorous but I really don't see myself contorting my body for a living.
Marie adds more color to Nikki's face. At shoots, even after the prettifying and styling sessions, the beauty and style team still have to be on standby. Even if the makeup is already perfect, some imperfections still show up on the photo. In this case, the bright lights turned Nikki pale. So more makeup!

Hope this peek was educational. I'll go back to regular silly programming after this.