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A Shopping Analysis

By Iris on June 4, 2011 in On Fashion, Word Vomit

I was killing time in the mall yesterday, waiting to meet up with Chin for dessert, so I decided to window-shop some. I was browsing through the racks in Topshop when it suddenly hit me: I’ve been going about my shopping the wrong way for the past, what, 15 years or so.

Here’s why. On principle, I wouldn’t mind buying an expensive dress that I really like, yet I wouldn’t pay over a certain amount for small separates like tops and skirts and shorts. I’m not entirely sure why. Perhaps on some subconscious level, I believe that more effort and material are used in the making of a dress; therefore, it should cost more. That’s the most logical reason I could think of.

At that moment, though, I realized that if I really, really, REALLY wanted to make the most out of any purchase I make, such reasoning was completely invalid. I simply can’t get as much mileage out of a dress than, say, a pair of denim shorts. I probably wear my most favorite frocks once or twice a month, whereas I wear most of my shorts and tops to death. So if I am to consider the cost-per-use for each dress that I own and compare that with the cost-per-use of separates, I can safely say that I am – pardon mon Francais – royally fucked. It’s a shocking discovery akin to realizing that you’ve paid for Smilebox.com invitations when they’re really FREE. A dismal ROI (return on investment) might as well be zero ROI for all the good it’ll do you.

Do you see what I’m getting at here?

But yeah, it’s amazing what one can think of when one is crushing over a pair of $50 shorts that one really does need (because one’s mother took one’s favorite old pair to Canada) and will probably wear five times a week till one is 40. Damn this self-imposed shopping ban.

- Posted using BlogPress on Agrippa, the iPad

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These days . . .

By Iris on April 26, 2011 in Life, The Homefront, Word Vomit, Worker Bee

. . . I’m spending all of my free time with Mum, who’s home from Canada for 3 measly weeks.

. . . The Husband and I are sleeping on the couch to make way for our guest. Thank heavens for electric, reclining ones – even if they are made of (clichéd) leather.

. . . work is kicking my backside.

. . . there’s way too much exhausting family drama.

. . . I haven’t been shopping for shoes or clothes or Povada Fine Jewelry. I’m hoping to meet most of my personal goals this year or the next, and I’m going to need the funds to do so. Wish me luck.

. . . I’ve been planning my Kota Kinabalu-Sandakan trip with The Husband next month like a woman possessed. The Kinabatangan (Sandakan) leg is particularly tricky because it looks like we may have to give up quite a few basic creature comforts to make the most out of the whole Borneo jungle experience (while paying top dollar, mind you). I am very ambivalent about the whole thing. I would never pass up the chance to observe primates and pygmy elephants and crocodiles out in the wild. But I can’t live without a good, clean toilet either. Go figure.

. . . I find myself hovering. Hovering between happiness and sadness, exhaustion and exuberance, hellos and goodbyes.

I’m hoping to get my blogging mojo back any day now. Sometimes it feels like I’ve inadvertently locked up my desire to write in one of those steel garages, and I’ve somehow lost the key. I hope you’ll stick around ’till I get it back.

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Boots are haunting me!

By Iris on November 1, 2010 in On Fashion

I swear, I can never get enough of boots. Just when I think I have all the pairs I could ever want in my arsenal (read: shoe rack), I find something new that I want . . . badly! Like these fleece ones from Whooga. Never mind that it’s about 28° Celsius in my neck of the woods right now – I can just imagine how good they’ll look on me with tights and a pea coat.

Yes, I already have an outfit picked out, just in case I do win one of ‘em babies. And no, I didn’t have to do a thousand cartwheels or anything ridiculous like that. I just signed up for the Whooga newsletter to throw my hat into the ring, so to speak. Easy peasy. It’s definitely worth the effort for these gorgeous babies:

The beauty about this whole promotion is anybody from any country can win. Methinks I’m going to get my mother in Canada to sign-up, too. She needs ‘em fleecy boots more than I do.

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Mum, Dressing Down

By Iris on October 15, 2010 in On Fashion

I grew up seeing my mum in dresses. I honestly don’t know anyone who can rock a dress as well as she can. (Yes, that includes you, Jessica Alba!) She wears dresses everywhere, too.

Case in point:

Random weekend at Ayala.

The Nephew’s first birthday party at McDonald’s.

Universal Studios Singapore

I have not seen her in a single dress since she moved to Canada in June. Instead, she’s been wearing this:

Working.

It’s a waste of a perfectly fashionable lady. These Canadian healthcare jobs just don’t have any imagination.

(I miss my mum. Does it show?)

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Next Year

By Iris on October 2, 2010 in Traveler

The Husband and I, we make it a point to travel a few times every year. This year (so far) has seen us in Donsol in March, Singapore in April, Hongkong in June, and Coron in September. Then there’s my 2-day girly shopping trip to Manila with The Bestie and The Sister come November (giddy, giddy, GIDDY!), and Puerto Princesa in March 2011. We’ve got the awesome Cebu Pacific flight deals to thank for all our trips because if there’s one thing I’m really, really good at, it’s booking cheap-assed Cebu Pacific flights!

Next year, however, is going to put my cheap-flight-booking skills to the test because we’re aiming to go beyond Southeast Asia. And about time, too! My main problem about going West is the ubiquitous visa because although I’m married to a Brit, I still have a Philippine passport – which means I still have to go through all the stupid paperwork. It’s a real nightmare because I work freelance and have no supporting documents to speak of, so I never even bothered applying anywhere. But I am now about to become co-owner of Innuendo – officially! – so that changes a lot of things, yey!

We’re hoping to go to Canada in the Fall to visit The Mother in Calgary and to go looking for moose and prairie dogs and bears before they go on hibernation. (Yes, I am serious.) We’re also hoping to squeeze in trips to the coast to see whales, and who knows? I might see me a narwhal, if we get far enough north. I do like my narwhals!

And if the Canadian embassy grants me a multiple-entry visa, we’re definitely going to make our way to Cusco in Peru (where I don’t need a visa, mind you). The Husband has been dying to go to the Highest City in the World forever, and his enthusiasm is infectious. We plan to make our way to the salt licks to watch the parrots, and I’m determined to find me some wild alpacas. I can almost see the photos I will be taking!

Initially, I did plan for Europe in 2011, but with Mum in Canada, I had to reconsider. Not that I’m complaining. I’m always happy to go somewhere – anywhere! – new. And who knows? We might’ve saved up for even more traveling by then. Europe could still happen in 2011 – though I’d be happy to wait till 2012, if I have to!

But for now, I’m starting the travel planning early so I can make this trip as cheap-assed as possible. Old habits die hard.