Great Finds
Blogs are personal virtual homes, so in this entry I will again indulge in MY personal girly shopping talk. Every girl wants to shop anyway and if you don’t, then there must be something wrong with you. I swear, ha-ha.
But I confess... I can be a shopaholic... if let loosed. Luckily so far, my rational conscience is always hanging around my neck.
Alrighty, let’s talk about the great finds we’ve had. An interesting subject for women, I guess not for men eh? Sorry guys, its still women’s time to gloat. So for the sake of girl-ness, all of you wimin out there, do come out forward and tell us your greatest find ever, from this year, last year or whatever year...
Here is mine anyway:
Wardrobe Accessory
I bought this in Bijenkorf last January together with MadamE. When I first saw it, I was like, “Oh, this is just so gorgeous!?” Quickly, I looked around and realized that it was the last piece. A closer look: 3 digits but 50% on sale, oooh... still expensive. We were thrilled, we hushed and giggled like silly little girls while inspecting our find.
MadamE was really taken over it, so I held on to it like my life solely depended on the item, for fear that someone else might snatch the thing.
True enough, while fitting the belt bag in front of the mirror, a few ladies noticed the leather belt bag and gave us their approving remarks --- in Dutch of course, Oh, wat leuk?... Ah, wat mooi, zeg!... Past heel goed bij jou, hoor!, he-he.
One lady was lingering in our area, and I knew from the glances she gave us, that, she was eyeing the thing steadily. Maybe hoping that I will return it back to the shelf? Hah! No way Dutch lady. Clever me, I bought it. Case solved!
Later, I told myself, “What if it was not 50% off, would I still buy it?”
Hmm, a very hard question it is.
Well, true enough, the item proved to be priceless. It was not only a dazzling addition to my wardrobe and accessories collection, but it was also a very practical gear for traveling. With the belt bag, I can have all my personal items, i.e. passport, bank cards, money, smokes (yes I smoke! but socially), etcetera... even a tiny agenda can fit in there! Simply marvelous.
Plus, everywhere I go, I get these second glances and stares from everybody, lol. They look at me from head to foot but lingering on my waist --- the belt bag of course. A great find indeed!
Home Accessory
I love beautifying homes but save for my own abode, as it still is in the process, and if I may say, for a year already.
Two weeks ago I made this unique table arrangement. It doesn’t really reflect the spring season, instead, it shows more of the autumn mood. Spring is too colorful for me; I’ve developed a personal aversion towards sharp colors, unless of course if they are used as an accent, then it is fine.
There is something special with this composition though. All items didn’t come together in one piece, I put them all together by myself.
One of my seasonal habits, that is, when I am in the good mood, is to recycle and mix things. The work on the picture on the left is a prime example. Some of these items are actually used and old, while others, are new.
Here is the composition:
(1) CANDLE: (the center piece), was given to me by my sister-in-law last January.
(2) IRON PLATE: I bought it two years ago in a kringloopwinkel (recycled/2nd hand shop) somewhere in IJsselstein for just € 1,50. I love going to these places, you can actually find diamonds in there.
(3) ACORNS: I picked them last autumn in the Utrechtse Heuvelrug forest during the celebration of my sister-in-laws birthday.
(4) DRIED LEAVES and NEST: I bought them at IKEA two weeks ago.
(5) OTHER DRIED DECORS: (there is even an Okra in there, look closely!), I bought them at Xenos last year, a cheap-y home kitchen shop here in NL.
what a beautiful centerpiece. it's so simple, yet elegant. i have a similiar centerpiece at home, but i made it with a beach theme: sand, broken shells, seagull feathers, dried seaweeds (no, not nori), driftwoods, and sand dollars. i go to the beach often, so the items in the centerpiece get replaced often. one would think it was store bought if not for the slight hint of ocean smell .. you just can't get potpourri that brings you memories of walking on the beach. a friend once thought it was an ashtray .. i could have killed her as she reached to put out a cegarette!
ReplyDeleteHa, yeah, you got this one right on the nose Jori. You should have seen my house before I got married as opposed to after, what a difference. It looked like a college dorm room, only bigger and with more food! Now I've got flowers everywhere, and little knick knacks that I don't even know what the hell they're suppoed to be. I laugh everytime Virginia asks my opinion on something for the house. If it was up to me, I'd just hanh Guinness posters everywhere!
ReplyDeleteRik
schatzli, Spending good money for a coat is always the best. In this weather, its the coat that we wear often and because of that we need a really good quality one. But usually if you buy an expensive one, chances are you wont be meeting a twin! I hate it when I see another person wearing the same thing that I do! The Kosta Boda site didn't say any price! I am thinking of buying a huge crystal glass or silver thing for my living room table. Currently I have 2 small jars and a ball made of laminated wood. But want to replace them... I am looking now at which option, silver or crystal? Hmm. Send me pics of the boots! We should start a fashion and home group blog, don't you think?
ReplyDeleteDamong*Ligaw, Hey thanks! I don't like too much "kalat", I want that my eyes would not feel busy. I guess when we were just starting with out career, we tend to buy and buy, but as time goes by, we learn the real value of money. Believe me, many people are up to their neck with credits. My credit card would be left crying because I have it ignored. The charge on my card was in February, when I paid my hotel in Madrid, hehe. Yes, please the panther design jars in your blog. That reminds me of my tiger design duvets in Manila. I regretted for selling them when I left. Take meds for the migraine and no chocolates! I also occassionally have migraines during period but I notice it that it recurs if i eat bad (meaning i eat more meat and carbo than i normally do).
Nam LaMore, Thanks nam! I like it so simple, yet elegant. This is actually a center piece for my dining table. Your centerpiece must be nice! I think it has more touch and appreciation when you did it yoruself, compared to buying something ready. What I also wanted to do it hang a huge painting in my living room (its back to back with my dining), a painting that is very colorful (and will be the only colorful piece in this room) and i prefer it abstract. I wanted to paint it myself but I am lazy and i need a huge room to do that thing. The painting should cover be at least 1.5m x 2m.
Rik, Men are men hahaha. Dutchman also had everything so simple. During the first week I moved in Holland, I spent it re-arranging things, throwing stuff, and buying new ones.
"laugh everytime Virginia asks my opinion on something for the house" - Yeah women do this alot haha, even me! Like you Dutchman finds it ridiculous that I ask him since he doesnt really care that much. He just want simple. But we women love some sense of approval, so play the game Rik when Virginia asks for your opinion :-)
Got to look at around the house and see if there's anything that can be considered a 'good buy' from those items I bought since Jan. Gone are those days when I used to buy things that I end up not wearing or using them 'cos I was just in such a hurry to pick up a 50% discount bag,trousers and shoes that I even forgot my color preference. My shopping attitude has changed dramatically after reading a book that teaches 'money concept'. Very useful book, in fact it was a good buy as well! I am now a sensible shopper; I look for best deals and try to resist the temptation of having this and that.
ReplyDeleteOh, one of the things I bought and liked by Pet was a jumper by Next. It was 50% off when I bought it (secret) and, an Egyptian cotton bedsheet for only £15. And yah, thanks for the home deco idea (galing mo), our house is neatly painted with magnolia but lacking any sort of decorations. Not that we don't want to but the only problem is Chloe who tries to pull,smash,scratch (and do all manner of destructions) everything within her reach. She even manged to break my lovely vase! I really need to change the curtain to a modern pattern-hopefully this month and of course it should be a good buy.
Mrs. Frivolity, Yeah Charity Shops are just really cool. In fact I learned about this back in Manila when I kept watching HBO and their Home Design TV shows… and there is this program that highlights great finds in flea shops/markets. Too bad, the ukay-ukay (charity/2nd hand shops) in Pinas are mostly for clothes. We dont really have these kind of huge charity shops/markets, well dunno now. And here in NL, even people who are rich go to charity/2nd hand shops, haha. Kuripot! (Thrifty!) You have to check the "Waterlooplein Markt" and "Albert Cuyp Markt" in Amsterdam! They are open everyday. If you don't find anything, just buy cheese hehe. The best open market I have been to was the one in Madrid, El Rastro. Would love to go there again, just that it was sooo huge and busy, thousands of people there.
ReplyDeleteAra, You got the right word, "Sensible Shopper". I have become like this way back in year 2000 when I met the Dutchman. He became the auditor of my finances haha. Uy, I want to see a pic of that Egyptian cotton bedsheet. I love exotic stuff. I tend to mix period styles with exotic decors (asian and african). With a toddler, its best not t invest on breakable things around the house, or better keep it somewhere else for the meantime. Good luck with your curtain shopping.
Jori: I luvvvv candles too & any kind of scented oil ,potpourri or incense sticks from India. Very relaxing & revitalizing.
ReplyDeleteHats off on your style sense!!!
gosh, thanks! i do channel martha stewart once in a while; mostly when i'm stressed and need to find a calming activity, or just need to make use of all the knick-knacks i've picked up along my journey.
ReplyDeletei'm a great friend to go shopping with, as i give advice (warning: wanted or not!) and see the shopping experience akin to going to the horse-race .. it's a day out with friends. however, when i shop for myself, i'm a no-nonesense shopper: i'm a list based shopper. i know what i need and where which stores to get them. shopping is just a chore for me .. this is an area of my life that needs attitude adjustment.
Ooopps..forgot to type in my name..hehehhehee...The previous post was from moi!!
ReplyDeleteouch. pls dont make me feel bad about not being a shopaholic. i do appreciate beautiful stuffs, i just hate looking for them. buti na lang, frenchguy is a real shopaholic, and he loves decos too. bagay nga yata kami.
ReplyDeletei love your centerpiece. you've got real class, pede bang pahawa? :). and the beltbag, oh my, if my sis saw it, she would surely have bought it. that way, me maaarbor ako!
Wow, love the belt bag!! I must admit that whenever I buy something gorgeous, it makes you feel great! Hehe, I read once in a magazine that if buying sth makes you great, you're a shopaholic!! I thought to myself: I buy stuff like only 4 times a year, and when that makes me feel good, I'm a shopaholic??? Get real! Anyway, great entry, really, really love the belt bag!!
ReplyDeleteHi Jor!
ReplyDeleteHehe.. finally, this entry! I thought that LIMITED- Edition (50 pieces only ;)) belt-bag would never be posted and will be buried into oblivion!!! Hahh! Indeed it's one best buy. I am not the shop-a-holic type as you know, but I would never let it go had I found that first. Or you have to forcibly buy it from me then. LOL
But where's the matching purse?
MadamE
Mel, Thanks! yes candles, scented oil, potpourri, incense sticks make the home lovely. I will make a foto of my incese stick holder made of coconut and twigs, i bought from rustans for +PHP 125
ReplyDeleteNam LaMore, Speaking of Martha, she's a street smart woman. well men are very list based, you know what u want and get it. for women its an experience, a thril hehe. so we can use u as a bag boy? lol.
ANALYSE, Ah, you're one of the few ones ana! At least the frenchguy makes up for the lack, good pair! Thanks pala, remember i took finearts major interior design :) well, u have an excuse now, u need to buy a new wardrobe! (for the baby)
elentári, Dank je wel! It was the last, I also had a matching purse for it :) Well, I think shopaholic means when you cant control shopping, like u are enslaved to it.
Thanks to you MadamE! When are we going shopping again? =))
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