Collecting Stuff

You probably know by now how much I love collecting things.  I have a collection of Disneyland Pins, shot glasses, and mugs from places I have visited. For a time, I also collected PinkySt dolls up until the makers decided to stop producing them. 

I also have a lot of labbits and dunnys from Kidrobot, but the local distributor has ceased making them available.  Unfortunately, Kidrobot doesn’t accept my credit card, and the sellers at eBay price them ridiculously. So my collection stalled for now. I hope some enterprising person brings them back so I can go on collecting them.

It's the same with my 3A action figure collection.  The local distributor closed the shop, so I don't have a supplier anymore.  The nearest place to get them is in Hong Kong, and I am not into traveling overseas at the moment.

My collection of vinyl records, both old and new, is still a work in progress.  It’s my latest passion, and vintage records are so easy to get nowadays since there are online sellers and independent stores that sell them at reasonable prices.  I also go to the quarterly vinyl sale – and – swap meet, which is a good place to start a vinyl collection.

Another collectible I am amassing at the moment is the Funko Pop! line. I collect them because they’re so cute and have several items already. However,  they’re taking up some space in my room.  I think I need to slow down and only focus on Disney, Star Wars, and Harry Potter Pops for now.

So people ask me why I collect these stuff and I usually say, “I enjoy collecting them.  It relaxes me.”  I don’t know if I convince them, but I don’t really care if they agree or not.  I just enjoy collecting things that pique my interest.

I don’t usually let go of the items in my collections, and I don’t understand people who start a collection, and then when they grow tired or lose interest, they sell their items. I see a lot of items on Facebook for sale, and it’s sad. To some collectors, it's good because they can get items at lower prices, although the items show some wear. Anyway, to each his own as they say.  I’ll just collect until there’s nothing left to collect.

This 8" Sketracha Dunny will definitely spice up my collection

kidrobot.com

Here's something I want to include in my Dunny Collection. It's an 8" Sketracha Dunny from LA artist SKET ONE.

SKET ONE has been doing Dunny impressions of different condiments from Heinz like its ketchup, mayonnaise and mustard.  So it isn't surprising that he will do what is fast becoming a very popular spicy condiment, the Sriracha.

 The Sketracha Dunny comes with two chopsticks but take note that it does not contain any edible Sriracha.  

This Dunny actually puts two favorite things in one package: the sriracha sauce which I put on a lot of food and of course Dunnys which I collect.  I hope it becomes available here soon as it is a welcome hot member of my growing collection.

There is also a clear "half-full" version in 8-inches.  Both variants are also available as a 3-inch Dunny.

kidrobot.com

kidrobot.com

Funko turns Pac-Man & Company into Pops!

Funko must have heard me.  Just look at their recently announced Pops!

Classic video game character Pac-Man is coming soon in Pops! The yellow dots gobbling blob will be joined by Ms. Pac-Man in this adorable form.

funko.com

funko.com

Of course the series will not be complete without the four ghosts - Blinky, Inky, Pinky and Clyde - who'd probably chase Pac-Man around until they turn into a Blue Gost.

funko.com

I'm sure I am not the only one feeling nostalgic about this.  The series will come out in March this year.

Christmas at Starbucks: A New Drink, A Mini Card and the 2015 Planner

image from starbucks.ph

It's that time of the year again...

When November comes, Starbucks aficionados like me look forward to having more than their share of coffee to get the store's organizer.  It seems that this year, Starbucks made it easier for us to get their planner: you only need to drink 9 Christmas themed beverages and another 9 regular hand crafted drinks, or a total of 18 drinks.  I remember when we used to need 23 drinks to grab just one planner.

Ever the eager beaver, I went to my favorite store yesterday and got my first sticker.  I hope I can get more than one of the four designs this year. By the way, the 2015 Planners have very simple designs. They come in green, black, red and brown with drawings.

So what are this year's Christmas themed beverages.  Aside from the usual toffee nut and peppermint mocha, Starbucks offers the Christmas Cookie Latte this year.  I think this is the most popular variant this year because when I was in the store yesterday, 4 out of the 5 persons before me ordered this item.  So I jumped on the bandwagon and asked for the same beverage but I preferred it cold/over ice.

My first impression was it's a very sweet beverage.  There were cookie bits and shortbread sauce in the mix.  I think it will be best to drink it when you're feeling down since all that sweetness (read: sugar) will give you a boost.  

In fact, I was in a bad mood yesterday because I specifically asked not to put cream on my latte.  The barista, maybe she wast tired after making all those Christmas Cookie lattes, automatically put the cream.  When she realized her mistake, she scooped it out and drizzled my drink with more shortbread sauce to cover any trace of the cream. All my sense of reason flew out of the window and I told her I saw what she just did so she offered to make me a new drink. This also explains why I wasn't able to take a photo of my drink.

Anyway, I think I will order 8 more of this beverage to fill my card with stickers. I will try the same drink hot next time.

image from starbucks.ph

The other new thing with Starbucks is the Starbucks Holiday Mini Card.  It's so small, about half the size of the regular card, and can be used as a dongle or key holder.  It is also eligible for the promo where you load it with PhP1,500 and you get PhP300 extra load.  However,  the cashier told me that the promo is only up to Wednesday, November 5.  If you don't want to spend PhP1,500, you may still get it at PhP500.  The other two designs looked they came from the designers of  Hallmark Cards.

So it has begun... 

Kidrobot Reveals Dunny 2013 Designs on Facebook

The title of the blog says it all.  Kidrobot reveals the artists and their designs for the 2013 Dunny series on their Facebook fan page today.

Not only that, since the series is always in blind boxes, the illustration also showed the ratio of each design per case.  Unfortunately some of the ones I like are at 1/40 which means 1 for every two cases.   I will get one case and maybe try my luck pulling out the rest that are not in my case.

So who's your Dunny 2013? Take your pick from below.  The series will be released in the US on June 14.

Meet Puck from Okedoki X VTSS

Meet Puck, a cute little pug designed by Okedoki and produced by VTSS Toys.  He is coming out on July 5.  We're a lucky bunch because we're one of only 5 countries where Puck will be released.

Below is the colorway for our country which will be available from SecretFresh.  Only 30 pieces will be available for all of us.

Watch the video below to know more about this cute doggie.

DUNNY Series 2012

Kidrobot has finally taken the lid off the 2012 iteration of its popular Dunny Series yesterday.  This year's series features the handiworks of artists Andrew Bell, Attaboy, Scribe, Jeremiah Ketner, Jon-Paul Kaiser, Junko Mizuno, Kronk, MAD, Mauro Gatti, Sergio Mancini, Nakanari, Pac23, Tara McPherson, and Triclops Studio.  Those who would buy a case will get their hands on an exclusive dunny by Sucklord.  

The 2012 Dunny Series will be available online and in Kidrobot stores and retailers worldwide on June 21.  Hopefully these figures get to our shores.  I hope to get the Tara McPherson and Andrew Bell figures.

(all images from kidrobot.com)

Secret Fresh releases Puchaa 06.02.12

Secret Fresh is all set to release this Saturday, June 2 its latest exclusive toy named PUCHAA.  A collaboration between Huck Gee and Christian Tamondong, Puchaa is a mix of a tea cup based on Tamondong's painting and Huck Gee's signature angel-winged skull-headed Puto.

photos from Secret Fresh

Huck Gee is now in town to personally sign the Puchaa figures of fans and collectors.  By the way, the  release is limited to just 50 pieces.  Head to Secret Fresh this Saturday at 2:30 PM to add Puchaa to your collection.

photo by Rommel Chua

Secret Fresh is at the Ground Floor of RONAC Art Center, Ortigas Ave,, Greenhills, San Juan Metro Manila.

A slew of labbits

I think it will be a very busy year for my pocket. I've just purchased two version of Frank Kozik's labbits (the glossy and bondage) that were released this year when news came out of his latest creation, the pink and blue clear smorkin' labbits.

It's been almost a month since Kidrobot released the clear labbits and they still have not reached our shores.  I am still waiting for their arrival here and availability in my favorite local store when Kidrobot announced the release of mini Labbits happy version next week (June 7).

from kidrobot.com

I am so tempted to buy a case of these labbits from an online store and have them shipped here.  My only problem is customs might charge me more than what I paid for the figures. Sigh...

The Coca-Cola Glass Can from McDonald's

Now I have another reason to eat at McDonald's (aside from their coffee and pancakes)!

Starting yesterday July 2, McDonald's brought back its Coca-Cola Glass in a new cute design.  They call it the Coca-Cola Glass Can because it takes the shape of a Coke in Can.  This new collectible for Coke fans like me comes in 6 colors - lime, green, charcoal, pink, purple and blue.  

As you can see in the picture below, I already got the lime, green and blue ones.  I'm definitely coming back for the other three colors.  I was informed that the pink one is the bestseller.

To start your own collection, order any McDonald's Extra Value Meal and then just add PhP25.  Better hurry though since this will be available for a limited time only.  As I've said earlier, some of the more popular colors are going really fast.