Happy Sunday!

I heard Mass a few hours ago with my sister Kim after she had her hair done. The Mass Presider gave a really moving homily and it got me to think introspectively. He said that the rich are striving to be even more rich, the powerful are lengthening their control, the billionaires are becoming gazillionaires. Given that you may have everything in this world but in the end you will end up with nothing. He added that we need to invest with food that will keep us full forever. Absolutely true! So Bill Gates and all business tycoons endow the world with your earthly fortunes haha. As what Jessie J said in her song it’s not about the money. So let us do good to ourselves and then to others. Share our blessings. When did I get so serious? Yikes.

Anyhow, spread the love and not the crabs. haha. #kidding

The Art of Ukay-Ukay

Shopping without punching a hole on your pocket sounds enticing and definitely music to any shopaholic’s ears. Who wouldn’t grab the chance to buy stuffs without any pressure of overspending. Today, we are not just confined in high-end stores and the mall to shop. We can also enjoy shopping at thrift stores to hunt for great finds. Thrift stores are becoming well received by the public. Even some local celebrities and socialites have expressed their fondness.

Here in the Philippines, we have Ukay-ukay shops, a colloquial term for thrift stores. I think this started in Baguio and then down south. From accessories to garments to foot wear, name it and they might have it all. Merchandise found here are largely pre-owned. It also boasts for housing some designer brands like Prada, Balenciaga among others for a very reasonable cost which almost you can’t say no.

You can catch ukay-ukay shops almost anywhere. It is never easy to rummage inside thrift shops as it will test your patience and determination. At first, I didn’t appreciate these stores because of the amount of stuffs they have are suffocating that it’s barely impossible to move comfortably(mostly). But after some frequent trips, I managed to get used to it and actually enjoyed the experience.

Thrift Tips from the king of Ukay-ukay! Haha

• A notable tip that I can share with you is that you need to have a goal for every shopping trip you make as you might end up purchasing the same stuff all over again or if not you might end up buying stuff because they are just too cheap to make a pass.

• You can bargain with the sales person at the price you want. Try asking for the half of the price and take it from there until you meet halfway.

• I have favorite shops to go to. Some have  a list of customer’s contact numbers and they notify them once they have new goodies. Also, it is wise to get into the shop as soon as you receive their message since this is the perfect opportunity to get hold of good quality and branded items before anybody else will. During their new arrivals, prices are a little expensive(if you have been an avid thrift shopper) but still low-priced compared to mall rates.

• You just need to be meticulous in examining your choices before paying. Some shops do not accept exchanges but seldom do this happen.

• Bring a friend with you whenever you shop. To help you decide or to maybe drag you out of the store when you are overspending! I have my friend/shopping buddies: Tel Mistal, who is in Dubai right now fulfilling her hardcore shopping there(I miss her a lot) and Jinky Bautista, she is widely acquianted with a lot of brands and we go mostly to flea markets(In Apo, Haha). But sometimes friends will push you further to shop more haha.

• These shops also hold SALE! from as much as 500 bucks to as little as 5 pesos! Take the advantage of rummaging during these times for there is almost no reason to feel guilty and if you are into garment deconstruction this is the time to seek your raw materials.

Here are some of the great finds I amassed!

Shopping is addicting. You might need to step back a little if you think you are overspending. You don’t want to be a member of Shopaholics Anonymous, Do you? Luckily, I’m not yet. Haha

You don’t need to spend your hard earned cash on fancy things and there are no excuses for not being IN STYLE because a lot can be done. You need to just bust your *ss and think!

Happy shopping everyone! I will see you around.

At the Mall

Gone were the days when museums and parks have been the go-to places of families and friends during the weekends. Welcome to the new era!

Here in Pampanga, 11 malls are catering to almost every citizen looking for some fun. But what I really favor the most is Marquee Mall, it is a mall owned by Ayala Land and this is Ayala land’s second leisure project north of Manila. What’s good with Ayala Malls is that they really want their customers to feel like they are in a sort of weekend family trip while still actually enjoying the perks of shopping and dining. The mall is equipped with fantastic and well maintained rest rooms and they have pay lounges too. This is an important facet for me.

Outside the mall, there is a huge area furnished with structural figures and water fountains making the facade even more appealing. I also commend the VIPinoy Lounge, it is a special area for OFWs and their families to spend leisure time and to also make business as well. Ayala Land really thinks of customer’s maximum satisfaction compared to other malls who are like stuck with business mindedness. To this effect, I think other malls are actually making their own move to keep up with changing customer wants and needs. I do hope so.

At the mall this Saturday, I helped my brother to buy shoes. But unfortunately, I was the one who bought one thanks to Mom! I am a mall rat since High School and I have a weird unrelenting urge to go to the mall before I leave home. Yes, I think I’m addicted. You can even ask me directions for stores and for sure I know. Hmm, maybe I can make this one for a living. A personal shopper, I guess?

I got a mall-induced headache so I headed home! Enjoy the rest of the night.

Lookbook Love

There are a lot of chic and dapper looks that were put up together by stylistas on LOOKBOOK.nu. Anyone can draw inspiration from these looks. If imitation is a felony, I would have been without a doubt an offender then.

I normally go for clean, dapper looks but of course, I also am a fashion risk taker. Once in a while, I go out of my comfort zone and try to explore options. Since it’s almost summer all year here in the Philippines, I usually go for shorts and shirts for an easy casual look. I also do a lot of layering. But the perfect time to be stylish here is during the rainy months. It is during these times that we can experiment and get some layering going or get those knits out of the closet.

Here are the looks from LOOKBOOK.nu which I can say reflect my style.