Yesterday (April 1, 2011):
I went to school to meet-up with some of my friends and to pick-up my class cards (which were awesome, but I still lack three). Liz was there and we really wanted to hang after collecting our grades sort of as a celebration for my birthday since I didn't get to really enjoy the first half of my birthday (which is okay because my dinner with my family was really fun). Anyway, we were still planning when we mentioned Reese's store. Our original plan was to hang around Greenhills for the afternoon and then we said that it was a must to visit her store. She went there during the weekend and she was trying to remember where it was. We ate lunch in my favorite restaurant, Le Ching and then since we had time to spare, we wanted to go to "Elan".
All I knew about the store was that it was in Greenhills. That's what Liz remembered, too. So we went to the tiangge for awhile and then we went to V Mall, she said that she doesn't remember the store being there so I thought of the Theatre Mall, we only got to the second floor where it was mostly gadgets and then I showed her the first floor (still from the second floor), "No, I don't remember it being here." I remember from Reese's blog post that the place looked really new and white. So I lead Liz to Shoppesville plus where the building was really new and so were most of the stores. We looked around and even got distracted by Payless and we even went ALL AROUND the second and third floor. We wanted to ask the guard but he looked pretty rude to another customer so we asked a janitor instead. He told us to ask the information booth instead 'cause Elan didn't sound so familiar to him and I asked if he noticed any new stores and he said most of them were new. Liz and I felt a face palm moment when we found the Information booth in between two stores we kept passing by during our hunt.
"Wala pong lumalabas sa computer, ibig po sabihin walang Elan dito." (There's nothing coming up on the computer, that means there's no Elan here.) So that was a downer. The girl suggested going to Theatre Mall or V Mall but we told her we already went to V Mall. Then Liz thought that we really needed a wi-fi hotspot so we could check out Reese's blog. We asked the girl in the Information booth where there was free connection around and she pointed McDonald's. Liz and I went inside McDonals, sat on the last available table, and brought out the iPod touches we had. We didn't even order and the guard didn't seem to mind that we were there with no trace of food. Liz found the address and it said "Connecticut St." her iPod's Google Maps was telling her she was in North America so I used mine to check it out. The street was right behind us but outside the mall. Important event: Liz went on Facebook and checked us in Happy Lemon which we weren't in, 'cause we were in McDonald's. After some thinking and giving in, we decided to try leaving the mall and looking for Connecticut St.
Did a screen capture yesterday but deleted it.
Here's a new one, though. Specially made two minutes ago for the post.
So here's where the importance of Liz' check-in comes in: Her sister was with her when she visited Elan during the weekend and thankfully, she saw the post all the way from Singapore and left a comment saying, "Look for Flapjacks. Kita mo from there Elan." So on our way out of McDo, I was like, "OMG, I KNOW WHERE THAT IS!" So we walked to Flapjacks and stood there. We were like, "O_O WHERE'S ELAN?" So I figured, inside Theatre Mall! So again, we walked around the fashion shops of the mall and even talked to one of the sales ladies who seemed pretty amused with us. It was a failure and we couldn't find the store. So we saw a more friendly guard and asked him all the clues that we had; Elan, Connecticut St., and North East Square. It was so embarassing, 'cause he pointed out that Connecticut St was outside, and that we were in Connecticut Lane (inside the mall) Liz and I were like, "OHHHH HAHA WE DIDN'T EVEN KNOW THAT" So we went back to McDonald's, looking like freaks with iPods who were obviously using the wi-fi connection. So we tried go behind McDonalds and I didn't see Pancake House, so we went to the other side. We reached the outside of Greenhills already, but we couldn't find the North East Square!
So we were already tired and then I started laughing hysterically, and Liz asked why. You see, we didn't have enough cash in our wallets. We just really felt the need to look for the store. So I said in the middle of our walk, "DUDE, WE AREN'T EVEN PLANNING TO BUY ANYTHING" So we laughed laughed laughed 'cause it was true. We were walking our asses around the entire Greenhills mall just to see the wonders of Elan. That didn't stop us, though. We went back to McDonalds and I read the directions of Reese again. Then I read, "It's the white atrium somewhere between the very popular Lugang Cafe and Amici" When we got out of GH, I pointed out to Liz how good the food in Amici was. So when we were back in McDo, I was like, "LIZ, WE HAVE TO GO BACK! IT'S NEAR AMICI, THE PLACE WITH THE GOOD FOOD" We were tired, but still, we really needed to check out Elan. We walked back to where we were before, then crossed the street to Amici. I've never heard of Lugang Cafe and I wasn't even sure if I was pronouncing it right. So I asked the guard of Amici where it was and he said we had to go straight. When we were walking along Connecticut St. (finally), we were laughing when Liz shouted. "WHUT?!"I asked. "NORTH EAST SQUARE!" And there it was. That white atrium was like heaven to us, 'cause it was leading us to the cutest store ever.
We sort of ran, or just walked faster and when we got there, Liz was so happy to see Banapple 'cause that's all that she remembered about her visit to the store. We were looking around for Elan then Liz said the number one thing I didn't want to hear that moment. "Oh my gosh, it's closed." I looked around and there it was, Elan, in the ground floor of the North East Square. From upstairsit was dark and everything so we had every right to think it was closed. We said that it didn't matter, we still really wanted to look at the store. So we rode the elevator going down and we were talking about how sad we were that the store was closed.
From upstairs, we already saw a woman checking out the store from outside and how happy were we when we saw her enter the store when we landed on the ground floor?!
So when she did, we squealed and ran after her, I think she thought we were weird. I decided to ignore her and we went in. The place was magical. It was full of the cutest accessories and it had the prettiest interior. I had the dSLR with me but I was going around and checking out the cutest rings and necklaces and bows and key chains and so much more that I didn't even bother bringing out the camera. Plus, I was a little shy to take photos. It was so awesome. Words can not explain how happy we were to finally find the store and how cute and pretty the entire store is. I really didn't have enough cash so I was really bummed 'cause I wanted to buy so many necklaces and I wanted to buy a really pretty ring for my sister. Liz, though couldn't help herself. It was cute actually, 'cause she bought a bow ring (which is the same ring Reese wore in her Trophy Boy video, but pink) and an awesome ring that had the UK flag.
Liz: "What country is this?"
Me: "Britain!"
Liz: "SKINS"
We left the store after she paid and I was a little sad that I didn't have enough cash. I had enough to buy the same rings Liz bought but I wanted to buy the necklaces first, so I made a promise to myself that I would go back for the necklaces and the ring I want for my sister and I would buy them all at the same time. Oh, I almost forgot! While Liz was paying, I asked the one who was looking after the store a really important question.
Me: "Ate, kilala niyo po si Reese Lansangan?"
Ate: "Lansangan? Ang alam ko lang ang may ari pangalan Lansangan."
Me and Liz: "'yun na nga!"
Ate: "Ano ulit pangalan?"
Me: "Reese po."
Ate: "Ah, baka anak siya ni ma'am!"
<3
When we left the store, we headed out to Amici for some gelato and I realized the most awesome thing ever and I told this to Liz:
We're getting so many steps closer to meeting Reese Lansangan!
We've decided that the North East Square will be our new hang-out place for the upcoming semesters, especially for our super long breaks. Really excited for that! I can imagine myself buying a new accessory every week. Haha! As if I had that much money. Anyway, there. That was our adventure and I remember that when we were on the hunt, we kept on saying, "Gosh, how much do we love Reese?!" Awesome. <3
By the way, in case you want to know her as much as we do:
REESE LANSANGAN:
ELAN:
Reese's blog entry about Elan:
If one day, Miss Reese Lansangan will be able to read this, let me just say...
WE LOVE YOU AND ELAN. We hope to meet you soon!!!
..and maybe a photo shoot with you soon? :">
