TRESOR: Confessions of a BAG HAG/HOG

BAGHAG has MOVED to thebaghag.blogspot.com

2006-06-22T20:56:00.000+08:00

OH. MY. GAWD.

I can finally access THIS blogspot account AGAIN after practically TWO weeks! Thanks to blogger, who FINALLY read my emails about the problem of inaccessibility of my account (and there I thought I used up too much of their space for my photos *hehehe guilty!!!)

I just wanted to let you all know that I have set up another blog to "replace" this one.

It's http://thebaghag.blogspot.com

Please do check that out, as I figured I will just let this be an ARCHIVE site.

Too bad though, I have already had over 7 months of stuff in here.

Nevertheless, I will rethink this over, on whether to use this again, or just go with the new site.

Meanwhile, PLEASE GO TO HTTP://THEBAGHAG.BLOGSPOT.COM :)

The same crazy baghag is there :-D And I'm still Mrs. T (ahhh typecast forevah *hehe*)

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT on Tresormakati :D I am now claiming the title "THE BAG HAG" (wannabe only, OK? *hellooooo pretentious hag alert*) Hehehe...

SEE YOU ALL at THEBAGHAG.BLOGSPOT.COM !!!

BAG ROYALTY! (Talk about EYE CANDY!)

2006-06-13T19:28:00.000+08:00

I went to Rockwell Mall today to get a hobo bag from Coco and Tres for a lovely bag hag down "south" :D And while I was there, I bumped into an "old" friend (we went to the same marriage seminar AND lamaze classes together too), popular TV host and MEGA woman Suzi Abrera! This woman just gave birth to her third baby (another cute little bag hag :D woohoo) some TWO MONTHS ago and she looked this svelte already !!!OK, Suz, you look WAY thinner than me and I gave birth over a year ago already!! (ugh I really envy women who could lose all the pregnancy weight Pronto. Siiigh, maybe it's time I look into mesotherapy *bawl!* And that will set me back by HOW MUCH again?! Then again, making me thinner won't make me look prettier. Think obagi-- sure make my skin better, but I'll still look like an old HAG *literally!* And slimming down won't get me brownie points either. *bawl... I'm a hopeless case!!! BAWL BIG TIME* Someone please take pity and sponsor me for a full-on plastic surgery.

Platinum digger alert (we don't like gold anymore haha): Err on second thought, forget it. Just give me the moolah and I'll buy new bags.. hehe I'll make your money worth MY while *selfish hag!!*

Eeeeeesh... Enough self deprecation for now or I'll truly feel like crap *if I don't feel it already feel like crap physically hahaha* So guess what, I have finally been convinced to post a photo of most of my bags *I'm posting a photo of the bags I used for this month* (you'll know what convinced me to do such a thing in a bit). Take note these are already most of my bags, so don't go expecting much more *muwahaha, I am telling you guys, I DON'T HAVE A LOT OF BAGS (wait til you scroll down further and you will choke!! hahaha)*

HERE they are-- MRS. T's Flavors of June *hehehe don't go expecting for more, that's all the photo I am sharing. EVER! (JP: I hope you are happy :D)*: HERMES Paris- Cannes purple bag, BALENCIAGA applegreen motorcycle city, GOYARD white croisiere 35, HERMES blue jean 30cm togo birkin, HERMES havanne 28cm croc kelly, FENDI embellished baguette (practically vintage!), HERMES fuchsia 35cm chevre kelly, BOTTEGA silver perforated pochette, LV damier alma, CHANEL large lambskin 2.55 (thanks to DM), GOYARD marine blue fidji, GOYARD orange fidji, LV cherry blossom red on cream papillon.

THERE. Are you all happy now? I practically revealed my SOUL here. And before you even start saying "no wonder she's broke" or, "oh my goodness, what a waste of good money coz it could go to her kids' education or to charity (which would actually be a good way to "spend" money *ok crap, I feel really guilty now sniff... wait... let this post be a happy and guiltless one for now, please?*), let me stress that my bag collection is truly nothing compared to some of our own bag hags (who have WAY more but are just too much of a "closet case" to reveal all! Tsk, you bag hagging hypocrites *guffaw guffaw :D*).

So now, WHY did I really post a photo of most of my bags? Is it because I have super low esteem today that I felt the need to brag about something I have to make myself feel better? (you know, men brag about their *ahem* size, and we brag about well, size as well *hahaha of our bag collection*) Not really. I didn't think there was a need to brag about a collection that TOTALLY PALES IN COMPARISON to many other bag hags. So let me tell you WHY. Well, because I got an email from purplegirl and I swear, she + her sis+ her mom are BAG GODDESSES (and she made me feel that my bag addiction is practically in its infant stage *wooohoo!* And THAT my dear hags, made me feel better, that's why I posted a photo of My bags... hahaha because it proves that I am NOT the only bag crazy lady here)!!!

To prove my point that I DON'T HAVE A LOT OF BAGS (as compared with other hags)-- read on...

BRAG A BAG COLLECTION: Presenting, the collection of BAG HAG ROYAL, purplegirl. This is actually purplegirl's mom's bag collection (no matter, it's still technically yours and sis's too! Dannnnng). HOLD YOUR BREATH, CHECK IT OUT, OGLE, AND DROOL hags, because baghogging can't get any better than THIS!!

Purplegirl's own bag collection ain't even included yet!!! * YOU ROCK!!!!* You guys have MORE Hermes boxes than any Hermes boutique I know :D Not only that, you have MORE BAGS than any Hermes boutique I know :D And let me tell you hags, this baghag royal family not only collects all things Hermes, they do so with LV and Chanel! With mucho gusto I might add! :D

I am totally green with envy (Pssst, can we come out and play with your mom's bags too? :D We won't even take it out of her closet! Promise! :D *Wo0ohaaa!!*) Thank you for making my own bag collection completely forgettable :D Purplegirl, your exhibition of excess will give me endless nightmares for the rest of my life (and BB's life hahaha). Thank you :) *muwahahaha I love it I love it I love it!!!!*

So now you see, my bag collection really is forgettable :) Have a great evening and let purplegirl's two photos haunt you for the rest of the night :D

P.S. Speaking of royalty, Turkish princess RuffaGB. is back in our town. Hopefully I get the chance to meet up with her this time. We will talk bags, what else :D *hehehe socialclimbing hag at work!*

P.P.S. HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY OTHER DB who like me, appreciates the finer things in life :-D

xoxo

More bag Reviews for Independence Day :)

2006-06-12T19:25:00.000+08:00

SHAMELESS SELLING PLUG: Today is the day I made my decision. I am letting the LV Denim Baggy PM go, along with the extra strap (long) that I purchased, with the intention of making it into a body bag for travel. I know, I know, isn't it a rather nasty decision to sell something that someone close to you had given (yes, every opportunity for you to take a potshot at me-- ok ok call me ruthless haha)? Well, let's you and me hear this--> It was DH's idea to sell the bag. He said (verbatim) "Sell na the denim bag and use that to offset the payment for your pink 'Kel'. That way it would be like I paid for your pink one." Geez, this guy keeps outsmarting me each time (that and his "suggestion" would make me seem like I'm not broke *muwahaha covering up again, what a faker hahaha*. But the reality is, I AM BROKE that's why I am selling the bag! *muwahaha*). So I told him, " But for the money you paid for the denim isn't even a quarter of the amount for the Kelly!" To which he answered "Well, I'd like to think I'm part of that Kelly investment of yours."

HAHAHAHHAHAHA!!!!!! See, now THAT'S him. Calling my bag an INVESTMENT. In official terms. Not like us, when we say "investment", we really don't mean it as "investment"-- it's just another lame excuse for us to buy the bag *muwahahahahaha!!!* (Ahh the truth comes out once again, shallow bag hags *cough* UNITE hehe)

Ok so anyway, with that little conversation and a lil tete a tete over vanilla almond tea, WE both agreed, the denim baggy PM will be sold (now don't you go castigating me or giving me the guilt trip!). I have lovingly used this bag. In fact, it had travelled with me and the orange Goyard fidji to Egypt and to Turkey :) And there is very little dirt on the cowhide strap, and the patina is still fairly pale. The long strap was only used ONCE. So you know how clean that would look like. I am letting them both go for Php 58,000. The Denim Baggy PM now sells for Php 67k at the boutique. And the long strap alone already costs over 7k. So the total for the bag is just a few hundred short of 75k!!

Anyway, here she is:sooo hags, if you are interested to see the item, please contact TRESOR at +63916758-0857.

The next bag in line for selling would be the Charms pochette, although I have not yet set a price for it. *see, spring cleaning HAPPENS in summer!!*

Ok now, let's talk sale. I was checking Chloe at Neiman's and the Gladys Tote is now just US$1,350 *I used the word "just" because the price is a much better amount to pay than the original US$1,800 hehe. Even then, I still don't have the funds for this bag. Ahh sad-- NOT* The tote is huge too, at 10 1/2"H x 15"W x 5 3/4"D. I can only think of this bag with one purpose-- DIAPER BAG!!! *wooohooo* Ok.. maybe not... Can't have the baby puke on this leather tote now. But I love the functionality of the bag with its zippers! And that luggage tag too, it kills me!! :-)

Here's a Bottega Veneta version of the LV Batignolles :) *Seriously, don't they sorta share the same style? :)* It is also now on sale from US$2,690 to US$1,883.00! If you own a BV bag, especially an intrecciato leather designed one, you never, never sell it! How can you go back to regular leather bags when you have felt BV leather? I simply love it, and this style looks quite good too!

And here's the last bag of the day. I never really wondered why this bag went on sale. Because it's BUGLY!!! Gucci Pineapple Print top handle bag. Heck even at the discounted price of US$1,323.00, I still will not buy this bag. Even if the bag gets a further 50% reduction. Sorry. It's really not doing anything for me. I could care less about this bag, because from its genesis, it could have very well been stocked at the bargain bin and I still won't give it a look. (WOOHOO BAG HAG BIATCHIN!!) Ahhh... that biatchin' felt gooood :)

This post will NOT end on a sour note, I promise you. Look on further...

BRAG A BAG ALERT: I love our ultimate bag hag Paz. Here she is with her white HERMES JPG shoulder birkin (not carried on the shoulder :D). Woman, I ENVYYYYY YOUUUUUUU :) Ey, I love that shirt. I should get one and parade around the house to show the DH that he has been replaced as my best friend :) *snicker maybe he will get the message and get on my good side and get me MY new best friend so that he becomes MY best friend again hahaha ok that was shallow*

And here is another baghag (ohmygawd) MT who finally emailed me a photo of her LV collection. Ok, I am sooo bowled over. This is AMAZING. MT: I'll trade places with you ANY DAY!! :) *OGLE OGLE OGLE everyone!!! This bag collection is from ONE baghag!!!*

Ok that's it for tonight (heck that's A LOT to handle tonight! Count the bags!!!!). Oh and hags, thanks for your well wishes. I really don't quite know what I have, except that I do get sore throats and then the occasional itchy nose (like I am getting a cold), but apart from that, I am fine (thanks to the prescribed medication). I hate getting sick. It's like a dark cloud looms over my head and on my bag (and the worse part is, the bag ain't waterproof *hahaha what an analogy*).

Enjoy the remaining hours of the Independence Day break!

xoxo

BRAG YOUR BAG COLLECTION (One guy has it all)

2006-06-11T17:17:00.000+08:00

Finally, another step to putting an end to the counterfeiting designer merchandise trade. Fendi (part of the LVMH group) is suing Walmart and Sam's Club stores for "allegedly selling handbags, shoulder bags, purses, wallets and key chains that imitate the designs of the Fendi products and that bear reproductions, counterfeits, copies or colorable imitations of the Fendi trademarks." The merchandise were said to be selling for as much as 68% off real store prices.

Way to go. Also last week, I was told that a raid was conducted somewhere in our own town in Baclaran to wipe out all counterfeit LV bags... Now this I'm not sure of the news' accuracy, but the abovementioned lawsuit was filed last June 9 in New York (for more on that story, check out MSNBC website)

Sigh, what really bothered me the most about the counterfeit designer trade industry was that they use children to make these things, and underpay them. Sure, the idea behind "who are you really fooling" when you use a fake designer bag is annoying, but the main point is, who are these industry players USING to make their bags? That is what bothers me the most.

Copy the style and all, sure ok, that just basically says you have no sense of originality, but geez have the decency NOT to copy the brandname as well. Sigh... this is a pretty frustrating battle I guess, one that would probably be overcome but not won.

Anyway enough said about counterfeits and all. This might just ruin our week altogether. Perhaps I am just in a foul mood because I am sick (yeah that's right. Cough and all, thank you).

So I will part with this one shot that's enough to stun anyone who reads this post (me included).

BRAG BAGS HOLLER: JP you are one awesome LV collector. Someday when I win the lottery, I will be able to accumulate as much as you. :)

Everyone else : DROOOOOOOOL!!!!! :-P~~~~~

P.S. Today is my parents' wedding anniversary (if only my Dad were still here)... Soo happy thoughts for today... :-) Smile! And if you are carrying an authentic designer bag, carry it proudly today :)

xo

The sickly bag hag returns :(

2006-06-10T19:07:00.000+08:00

Ugh. I woke up today with a nasty throat. That, coupled with a few tense body muscles= flu- like symptoms. I needed to get some professional help. I had to take antibiotics just to get the inflammation down. It's horrible :( Anyway let me put you up to date with what's been going on.

Met up with the Metro gals the other night. Daph, Mel, Jo, and Fi. Fi is leaving this coming weekend for San Francisco (not London yet. I totally messed that up *hello earth to Mrs. T*), so we had a dinner get together at L'Opera. Ok, hags if you can't decide what to order there, I just want to recommend the Angel hair pasta with saffron and garden vegetables. I've been consistently ordering that there everytime I do get the chance to eat there, and the dish has been consistently good.

By the way, caught Daph "at work" fixing Fi's necklace and HAD to take a shot. Foreground is Mel's Fendi Mini Spy bag (ooh Mel your bag is sooo famous now hahaha).

And here's Fi with her Fendi WHITE Spy :) *don't forget to check out her pretty necklace by Daph!)

I guess the other night was Spy Night :D I am pretty perturbed with how I feel (physically and mentally *which is another issue*) sleep this off. Tomorrow will be better I hope (I better lighten up or I'll get pelted with tomatoes or worse, rocks!!). And for sure, more bag talk tomorrow.

P.S. thankfully I had not been able to post the other night because I totally biatched *hahaha*. Basically, I just bitched about not having a steady stream of "income" (hello dingding freelance writing= not a stable source of income *unless I become an OFW for a looong time :D*). I just get real slighted when people think that I have all the time in the world to go shopping and buy whatever I want-- peeps, I am a proud hands- on Mama. Plus, since the time I began this blog, have I not made it clear that I am BROKE (because of all the bags I bought last year hahaha)? *and that I did the economical thing by spring cleaning so I can buy more bags?*. Ain't life a biatch for you to know that! *harharhar* I love to be your taitai and all that, but alas, a taitai wannabe like me will need more than just the average daily socialclimbing to buy what I want... something called WORK. *muwahahaha* Anyway, enough biatching. Time to find work with VERY decent pay or no moolah to pay for household expenses (I junked the couch fund looooong ago), and worse, no moolah to fund a new bag! *Don't you just wish money grew on trees?!* (fine fine, take your potshots at this ditzy bag hag, but my life does NOT revolve on shopping for bags alone... although heyyy, I would LOVE to do that for a living... hehehe... so if you want a bag here where I'm at, let me know... Next week. I need to get well THIS week :D)

P.P.S. Oh and here's something that I sooo totally love. My best friend KG sent me this photo taken in Vancouver-- the HUGEST Hermes Kelly I have ever seen !! :D *Now THAT is what I call an HERMESSSSSSSS BAAAAAG :)* (KG: you, me and Cat can fit into that bag comfortably!!! *hehe and by the way, did you ask how much that bag cost? hehehe*)

Have a good looong weekend! Meanwhile I need to recover from this bug. I have cancelled my "work" meetings as well as consignment meetings to get some rest... Being sick is really a bitch :(

Hags, if you had questions or wanted to meet up for consignments and stuff, let's reschedule to mid next week. I would absolutely NOT want to spread my ill health around (even if it's not contagious *blech thanks Doc!*)

xoxo

Bag Review Day3 + Introducing Marc Marmel

2006-06-08T00:48:00.000+08:00

Ok. I can't sleep. Hence yet another post! I haven't had Nyquil (ran out) for two nights now (yes I barely slept last night too, but decided not to go online). It's because yes, I ran out of meds, and another, because I realized I did NOT have a pending cold after all (see, I'm not really addicted to Nyquil. And tsk, no wonder I was not getting "well" and the "colds" didn't run its course!) It was a damn allergy, and Nyquil sure ain't gonna cure THAT. (See what an idiot I am?! Trust your old bag hag NOT to check with a doctor when it comes to taking meds. Tsk. Que horror! Medicine 101--- NOT! )

Anyyyyway, I was continuing my search on bags at net-a-porter, and voila, these popped out and were just begging to be reviewed.

BOTTEGA VENETA--While I continually rave about Bottega's signature intrecciato leather bags, I can't help but think "Hermes Garden Party tote" when I saw BV's canvas tote. Thought it isn't as expensive as the Hermes canvas tote, I still think £302.13 ain't small change. For the same style of a bag, I'd rather get it through a less expensive (or lesser known) brand. There are many brands out there who make this exact same style. It's just knowing where to get it. For example, I have a (way larger) green and navy canvas tote similar to this (although of course BV beats out my bag quality-wise hands down haha and well my bag actually, come to think of it, looks hella UGLY hahaha), and I had bought mine at J.Crew for US$75. But hey, ugly as my bag may be, it's as sturdy as a damn ox I tell ya. Not only that, it's huge and it has been schlepping around with me (as an overnight bag) for quite some time. And I never worry about it catching dirt. If this were a BV, well I'd be worried about dirt the moment I carry it out of my room!

ALEXANDER MC QUEEN--
Ahh the Novak. I remember about three seasons ago when this bag was just so hot that Neiman Marcus (SF) wasn't even carrying it in black and only in red (and it was just sooo sold out). Now it is available through net-a-porter for £621.28. Though originally thought of as a "hot" bag to have, I have somewhat changed my stance about it. Is it because it had transcended its time and didn't fly off to the land of iconic bags? Perhaps. It's pretty alright but I don't think this bag has the "IT" factor to be carried by just anyone. This bag will surely not look right for a petite bag hag, sadly (the bag looks too long-- vertically). That being said, I can't possibly think of it as a "good" bag. A "good" bag is one that works for either a tall or petite person. I guess that's why the Balenciaga Motorcycle bag continues to be one of the most wanted bags. It has not really been on these last two seasons' IT bag, and although the momentum has slowed down since its "official" debut (debut was a loong time ago, but it was only when the likes of The Olsen twins, the Hiltons carrying the bag did it become "cause celebre" if I may use that term), the demand for it hasn't really stopped. I know more than a handful of people who would love to get their hands on Balenciaga bags with popular colors such as turquoise, lime, and magenta. So anyway (boy did I stray), the Novak bag may look great on a tall person, but it's not meant for everyone (and that would include me-- the leather alone of the bag is enough to discourage me-- Hello scratches!!).

Luella Charms Satchel--
Now what on earth were the editors of net-a-porter thinking by touting this Luella Charms bag as one of the most wanted ?? The bag screams tacky, tacky, tacky. I think Luella was a one- hit wonder. It is sad that I think of her bags this way. The first time she came out with the Gisele bag in candy pink patent leather, I swore that her bag was so pretty. I HAD to have one. But season after season, she began bastardizing that Gisele design, adding cutout flowers, redesigning the shape into a frame doctors bag, then adding scalloped edges... I just think she over-experimented, and this bag is not spared from my analysis of her designs. It tries too hard. For the pricetag of £676.50, I'd much rather spend my money on the Alexander Mc Queen Novak. The Luella charms bag is becoming much of a cross between Moschino's really fun bags *NOT trying too hard* and Juicy couture bags (don't get hurt here, some of the Juicy bags are cute, but the others are ?!!?). Don't waste your money on this bag. Even if I see this bag on some chic celeb, I wouldn't bother taking a second look. Luella's bag time is over until she reinvents her designs again. (Oh and the fruit charms-- tsk... soo Hermes)

I also took time out to view bags by Marc Marmel, upon the kind recommendation of another bag hag named after the House that made the iconic Birkin *what trivia!* (baghag HT is only 20 years old *ahh to be young again hehehe*). Marc Marmel is apparently a newcomer in the bag industry (woohoo we always welcome newbie designers!!!). Marcwas inspired by the vintage pieces of Hermes and Louis Vuitton when he created this collection. And with that in mind, I checked out the bags. I immediately fell in love with the "look" of the bags. They have this weathered, "cracked" leather look (but they are NEW) and I just love it! That red bag you see being carried by that *woohooo* muscular arm and hand *hehee* is practically perfect, if it weren't made as an overnight bag (which it is unfortunately-- the bag has a rather thick width). But boy oh boy if that was a day tote, ohmahgawd you'd be sure to see me getting it (and worrying about paying for it the day after I get it *hahaha). Some of my faves of Marc Marmel's collection would be the Mail bag (more known to us hags as the Steamer bag, the precursor to the modern day Birkin), and the Duffle barrel bag (hello papillon hehe but hmm the size might be a wee bit too... long), and the classic Doctor's bag (aka Speedy haha), although an external pocket or two would make this bag look better in my opinion (or heck, a nice contrasting leather trim like that duffle would make this bag more different). Carrying a Marc Marmel bag would surely not make a bag hag worry about it as much, since it already looks weathered and "old", as HT rightfully said. So HT, I give this brand two thumbs up for its "luggage" collection. Again, I would not mind owning a piece or two of this brand (think of the cream colored bag!! yummmmmy). Marc Marmel bags are available at Harrods and Matches (UK), Holt Renfrew (Toronto), Maxfield (Los Angeles, CA), Bergdorf Goodman (New York), Lotte (Seoul), 4510 (Dallas, TX), and Isetan (Tokyo). And thanks again for introducing this brand to us, HT!! Watch out for Marc Marmel, bag hags!!

Ok enough for now. I think I have done a nice job of trashing some of the bags at net-a-porter (hahaha ok that was plain mean-- errr wait. Am I PMS'ing again so soon?! Or it's mid life crisis?! Errr.. Me think. I turn a year older very soon and it is really beginning to dawn on me that age is catching up with my body *oh yes, downing a whole friggin' family size pizza and not gain an ounce was a thing of teenage yesteryears...LONG GONE!!! Bawl!!!*)

Later hags! Perhaps I can talk nice and not biaatch later... Ah well who knows!! :D

P.S. I am actually sorta freaking out because my webmonkey has decided to leave his post *bawl* so what happens now to my website?! *major bawl* Stress, stress... (actually it's my fault. I didn't wanna face him because I didn't wanna learn to maintain it on my own *hehehe* Now I'm forced to. Coz I sure can't afford to keep a webmonkey around to maintain it for me all the time :D *cough CHEAPSKATE*)

P.P.S. I might not be posting tomorrow night. I'm gonna be out with the girlfriends for some good dindin and a fancy time together since our dear galpal FionaL, Metro Weddings Fashion editor, is leaving for London on June 10 *she is going to Fashion school!!!* and won't be back til, oh dear, I don't know when! :( We will really miss her :( Fi, Come back and visit us (or we'll go there and crash at your pad haha.. Trust me, you DON'T want that to happen *muwahaha*)!!!

And finally, good night! :)

More Bag Reviews + DaphP's Charm necklace + Brag some bags!

2006-06-07T22:24:00.000+08:00

So the bag hag continues to do a little surf shopping (here's proof that you don't have to have the money to surf shop :D just DON'T buy!!) *muwahaha*

At net-a-porter.com, I found some pretty good pieces that I would not mind owning.

Here are the winners for the night:

ANTIK-BATIK-- No, these are not the same as Antik jeans. (I was a sucker too, I really once thought they were one and the same). This Clio travel bag is quite big, and it works as an overnight bag easily. What I like about it is the small sequinned pouch attachment that comes along with it. It not only makes the travel bag look prettier (with it attached), it also is useful for an evening out. You can't possibly lug around that big bag to some nice restaurant or bar right? I mean, it's like practically lugging an overnight bag! So that little pouch will come in handy and will add a little bling to your getup. Bag is priced at £157.45 and also comes in white :) *I'd do the darker color* (Bag has leather handles)

BURBERRY-- This Jermyn leather tote looks like a typical leather bag, but the more I looked at it, the more I liked it. The leather looks so soft, and the whole bag reminded me of the Lanvin Kansas bag without it looking too "shaped" (i.e. rectangular). Looks pretty roomy too! Would work so nice with a neutral shirtdress :D (ok, lemme look in my closet if I have a shirtdress...) Priced at £761.70.

CHLOE-- So call me a latebloomer for liking the Edith bag a bit later than everyone else. I think the bag grows on you. I have been thinking that Chloe was engraving its own epitaph by overproducing Paddington bags (they are everywhere!!!), but this bag continues to be sold out at £560.85. I have seen a few at the resale stores in HK, but never really gave it a second look. Maybe I should've. This might be the better cure for Paddington overdose (by the way, I still am keeping my own indigo paddington-- I still love it *sans the padlock* because of the soft leather, but that's just me). (NOTE: This is real funny, so I went to Tint this evening and I saw the same style of the Edith bag in their store! Since I didn't really have time to go in and ask the price *I was with my DB*, perhaps the next few days I will go check it out :) Hey, put it this way, Tint may have taken another brand's design, but at least it ain't a fake designer bag. Nothing worse than fake designer, really)

Since I did pass by Greenbelt 3 tonight, I wanted to tell you the real reason I went there (no I DID NOT "pass by" bag boutiques again haha). I went there to meet up with DaphP. And voila, Here's my new necklace!! :D I photographed it in the "raw" so you can see the beauty of it. It would look so great too, layered with another gold necklace :D And I can actually put 2 photos in the locket! That pinkish pendant is a pretty cameo. The whole piece is beautiful. *dreamy* I've always wanted an antique charm necklace and woohoo now I have it!! :)

Quick holler to DaphP-- THANK YOU!!!!!! So hags, if you are interested in antique charm necklaces such as this beauty here, please do contact our resident fashionhag DaphP at daphneosena@yahoo.com :D

I looooove my necklace and I shall sleep well tonight knowing tomorrow I shall be wearing it to dinner out with the Metro girls :) *hehehe shallow, but hey, as long as it makes me happy :D)

OOh Ooh, the night won't be complete without...

BRAG YOUR BAGS ALERT: Baghag KY who is one of the few who have been brave enough to send me photos of her bag, made me DROOL and green with envy! Check out her collections, and dream about it tonight :D Night hags!!! xoxo

Shameless Plugging, "Swipe" Abuse, Lusting, ALL justified!

2006-06-06T00:03:00.001+08:00

I can honestly never really justify my shameless plugging of my own bags (to sell), but if it belongs to a fellow bag hag, I can't help but talk about some of their bags that catch my eye.

Case in point. Chanel hags, pay attention here. This is probably PC's last bag which she will sell. This is a *woohoo* Jumbo Chanel 2.55 bag in an alternative style from the diamond quilt. This is a Caviar leather (more coveted than lambskin because it doesn't scratch as easy), and has vertical "quilt" stitching. The bag is HUGE, and the logo is HUGE :D *ooohoooo this is practically orgasmic for logomaniacs out there (err... me included)*

The bag measures 12"L x 9"H x 3.5"W and is so roomy. I can vouch for this because I also have a Chanel jumbo bag and it is perfect for packrats like me. You can shorten the strap by pulling it off from under the flap, and carry it like this, or carry it in its full length drop of 14" (bag drops down to the waist area) or you can also carry this as a body bag. The bag's interior has a hologram sticker with identification number on it, however the numbers have been rubbed off over time due to use of bag. But the bag, again is guaranteed authentic and will come with its original Chanel box. Asking price is Php 38,000. A new Chanel caviar 2.55 bag (not even in this jumbo size) already costs approximately Php 95,000. So you are only paying 40% of the original amount for this bag! At Php 38,000 this classic iconic bag is already a steal. And from what PC tells me, this is the last Chanel bag she is willing to part with. (I hope not girl, I am still eyeing your pink caviar tote.. hahaha sell it sell it sell it! I'll buy it hahaha *even if I'm supposed to be broke*) The Chanel caviar jumbo chain-leather strap tote is available at TRESORMAKATI.

Ok anyway on to the real news. Well, so much for being broke. I guess we hags find every single excuse to get ourselves something new almost every month-- expensive or inexpensive. Doesn't matter. Bottom line, something new, something tangible (I swear we all have "swipe" abuse issues!!!)

So today, as it was DT's first day of school, I sneaked off (an hour into class) and headed to Greenbelt 4 (the sinful edifice of indulgence *muwahaha*). I hoped to just "pass by" without incident. You know :) *but geez who are we kidding! Since time immemorial-- the time I needed a new couch (the time I HAD money to buy a new couch), I have not really successfully mastered that art of "just passing by". Today, because of all that "just passing by" visits, I STILL don't own a new couch. And by golly it's been almost a year since I mentioned needing a new couch, and I still have NONE!! Go figure! *scoff, idiot baghag!*

Nye nye nye... Anyway, I went into the YSL boutique to check out the La Boheme fringe bag (the bronze on I featured from neimanmarcus.com is not yet available, but they have La Boheme fringe bags with the horn handle for over Php 70K) and intricate leatherlacework Mombasa for someone who wanted my opinion on whether it is a buy or not. I looked at the bag, and quite frankly, liked it. Mucho. But I have to ask you (YSL bag hag in doubt) if you will use the white bag often or not. White leather bags can be quite notorius with dirt and marks if not used "correctly". When I say "correctly", I meant, make sure that the place you are going to with your white bag, is not gonna make your bag get in contact with factors that can cause it to mark. You can use the bag with jeans of course, but just make sure not to rub the bag against the denim (coz denim bleeds). Never, never put your bag on the floor, or if you plan to seat your bag, make sure the surface is clean and dry (I know, be OC if you have to, it pays off. Heck it's a white bag!). Our resident fashion guru DOP hates to see bags on the floor (I would too, especially if the bag is expensivo! *wink to BB*) So, all those factors aside, I think the YSL leatherlace Mombasa bag is beautiful. :)

Apres YSL, I passed by Louis Vuitton. You know, just to "pass by" and say hi to Abby. But we all know, there is no such thing as a "say-hi-kinda-visit" to "the house that monogram built" (in BB's words). You know your addiction takes over you once you set your foot into LV. And lo and behold. I heard myself asking for the Damier Alma (secret desire bag but never really bothered to get). Abby also shows me a Damier Speedy 30. Do I want one? Nope not this time. I was deadset on an Alma. I've been wanting one ever since but just never really solidified that "want" into a "need". But today, it ceased becoming a want. It was necessary to walk away with one. (Postscript: DH could only shake his head and laugh at this *hehehe* By the way, he paid for tuition this time. I guess next semester is my turn?! *ohpleaseplease let me win the lottery please!!*)

Just as I was admiring the beauty of the Alma (I love the bugatti shape, really really do), did someone familiar walk in. OHMAHGAWD it was baghag mama MG!! OhMAhGawD, I was sooooo busted!! As it turns out, her Damier Speedy 30 had also arrived, and she was picking it up :D So, *woohoo* a token photo became necessary, resulting in this!!! Pssst, MG-- we sure had a blast today didn't we :)
The Damier Kissing Cousins *hahahaha* (MG's bag had the plastic and cardboard stuff still-- again, yet ANOTHER proof that LV bags DO come with plastic AND cardboard!) Note that this photo was taken INSIDE the Louis Vuitton boutique in Greenbelt 4.

Well, this Alma bag is my birthday pressie to myself (sigh, yet another excuse, I know, I know). And since some of you have been nagging me to tell you when my birthday is (and more importantly, how OLD I am), I can tell you this much-- I have the same birthday as King Edward I of England (woohoo am I a proven Royalista or what?!). Also Greg Kinnear, Barry Manilow, and I all share the same birthdate (although not the same talent haha oh how I wish!). So there. Those should be enough hints! As for the age thing, HAH! You can't fool me into giving you my birth year :D Sorry better luck next time *snicker* ok I am GETTING old, alright? It will not be a long time from now that I will be needing obagi and botox and all those stuff *muwahahaha* and when that day comes, you will be sure to see a LOT of my bags for sale haha!!! Can you believe it, those Obagi things already cost 18K?!?!! *shock, that's the price of an LV Monogram Wapity already and change!*

And before I say adieu for the night, a quick two- bag post from neimanmarcus.com :

This Marc Jacobs metallic tote is on sale from US$895 to just US$627.00 and it's just too cuuuuute!!

Oh dear another metallic tote. Burberry's shadow check tote which I find myself liking (gee, thanks baghag glamstudio AO for giving me this new bag to lust for haha) has its price marked down from US$495 to US$371.00. A nice change from the usual tartan checks of Burberry! :)

Ok anyway time to get offline now. I need shuteye. Nyquil beckons. I've been taking Dayquil AND Nyquil to suppress a supposed cold. I know, it's not good to suppress it, but at this point, this is way better than letting a cold run its course. It's school opening and I can't really afford to be "sick". So the colds will have to take a sabbatical :D *teehee*

P.S. Quick Holler to baghag JY who flew in from Bangkok sometime last week (tsk jetsetter galore, girl!). She gave me a mini bag booklet which contained all the hot bags to lust for (it was in Thai, but who cares, EYE CANDY!!!) THANK YOU so much JY! You have contributed greatly to my insomnia and I love you for it anyway :D *hehehe*

BAG REVIEW-- Neiman Marcus

2006-06-04T21:21:00.000+08:00

It's that time again. BAG REVIEW!
This time, bags come compliments of neimanmarcus.com

CHLOE-- Just when I thought the death of the Chloe bags was imminent, did Chloe come out with a Betty satchel in pewter. Though Baghag doesn't think US$1,995.00 is a fair amount to pay for this bag, it is nevertheless a beauty. Washed metallic leather sans the heavy padlock is attractive enough for me. Besides, I would still want to own a metallic leathered handbag, and this would fit the bill quite nicely. (This works, or a Chanel bowler in Silver :D)

YSL-- La Boheme Fringe hobo bag is beautiful. I just sold this exact style recently to a bag hag (but in rust color), and this bag looks so easy to use, and is roomy enough. At US$945.00, the bag is quite a bargain. Let me go and check this bag out in Greenbelt. I did see this style, but was not quite sure if it was in the same color. It's a yummy bag and I wouldn't mind using this if I were to be given one (hint hint) :D

LORO PIANA-- While I appreciate the simplicity that this large tote has to offer (plus it is made of buffalo leather), I cannot fathom forking over US$3,180.00 for it. I have seen a similar, smaller Loro Piana bag (in lilac) on sale at last year's Boxing day, and had almost bought it for myself, had it not been for the tiny dink on the leather. I remember the bag was selling for US$800. It was 30% off. Loro Piana is a relatively unknown brand in the bag world (at least in our bag world), but has been producing cashmere and fine wool fabrics for men's and women's clothing for over 80 years. I like Loro Piana bags, although they lean toward simplistic, uncomplicated styles. I guess they meant to design bags that way so that they will transcend time and trend. But I do wish they're cheaper :D

Anyway, I've been real good this weekend, slept early since I was coming down with some colds. So let me continue being good. Tomorrow is the first day of school as well for most of the kiddos (and we moms are gonna send em to school :D), so time to take off for now!

Til the next post hags :D

Sapato Manila, Coco & Tres, Rockwell Powerplant Mall

2006-06-03T01:03:00.000+08:00

Glorietta 4 (well, the whole of Glorietta and Greenbelt if I'm not mistaken) is having a midnight madness sale weekend. So I ended up avoided that mall at night, though I went there late afternoon with my DM (dear Mom).

Rockwell, ahh my fave mall. Tonight, I met up with a new bag hag Miss M, who is so totally amusing, we connected immediately (since we both know what it's like to like a bag enough not to be able to sleep well at night... welcome to the club, girl!) She walks away with the Chanel backpack y'all. So my 2 other ladyhags (ok no mention of names or initials here or they'll spit at me haha), sooo soooorrrryyyy but Miss M has taken custody of the pretty lil bag. PC will be pleased since little Miss Chanel backpack will be in very good hands :D

Anyway, OhMyGawd. So Tyler was having this sale. I went in, and while browsing, this sales associate with a spiked heel backs up on my foot. My already-ugly, veiny, nude foot. OUUUUUUCCCCHHHH!!!! So that's partly what happened to my evening. I am now the proud owner of a purple bruise on my left foot, near my toes. OUCH. :( *the SA said sorry though :D*

The only good thing that came out of this was, about a few minutes earlier, I had gone to the 2nd floor, Lifestyles section, to check out Sapato Manila and Coco & Tres.

Check out their stuff! My bronze Coco & Tres travelling bag/ hobo came in a different material, embossed pleather, and is really quite nice. And I can vouch for this much-- the bag is VERY affordable! Less than Php2,000 *I hope I saw correct!* :D And it's an original! It's so hard to find nice bags these days at affordable prices, and this bag qualifies that category of cheap&chic finds. There are also colorful suede bags (swirly bags!!) that just might add color to your bag collection (baghags who have a LOT of black bags, try this bag for fun!! :D)

Sapato Manila offers REAL snakeskin flats, and I could not resist and bought myself a pair in metallic eggplant (purple-brown) color. They were such a steal for only Php 1,600! And we are talking real snakeskin, not faux!! Lanvin ballet flats, eat your heart out! I'm all for Sapato Manila flats! Hey Ms.T (of Sapato), I wish you would come out with snakeskin ballet flats in bright metallic colors too!! :-) I also loved those colorful print clogs, but alas I can't really wear heels anymore or DH would be looking up all the time when we go out *snicker, ok that was mean hehe soweeee honeyyy* :D

Anywaym, go check Sapato Manila and Coco & Tres out, they are at the 2nd floor of Lifestyle Section at the Rockwell Powerplant Mall. And don't forget to walk home with a new pair of those flats and that hobo bag. They're hot!

Another bag boutique called Tru is on that area. Luis Espiritu launched a few bags of his design for this label, which included denim bags with studs and croc embossed leather, as well as colorful swirls fabric tote, and a large overnighter/ weekender bag. Prices range from Php 9,888.00 (for the Corine denim) to Php 20,888.00 (for the Regina travel bag).I personally think the bags are nice, but the prices for them are rather, *ahem* steep! Hmm... I should save up for that travel bag. It IS quite nice... :) Go check it out for yourself! Tru is also located in the Lifestyle Section of Rockwell Powerplant Mall.

To cap a perfect evening out with DH, we watched X-Men, The Last Stand. It is a pretty entertaining movie. If you haven't seen it yet, make sure to stay til after the credits have all rolled. There is one more short scene that you MUST watch.

Night hags and have a good weekend (shopping!)!!

Oh and Lily at Glorietta 4 is having their closing sale (goodbye but not farewell, as Wendy Hotung put it). So if you want some Chinoiserie, do drop by the little nook. :)

Bag Hag is coming down with the Flu

2006-06-02T00:06:00.000+08:00

Ok hags, I can't post much tonight. I need sleep. I just took Nyquil and it should be taking effect anywhere from 10 to 30 minutes, which leaves me ample time to post Brag a Bag :D

I am coming down with the flu I think, but thank goodness I was still able to meet up with Shampoo Hag JT :D She is sooo fun to talk to, and again I can never stress enough what a pleasant thing it is to be able to meet new people. :)

Anyway, let me cut this short and just post the bags that these lovely hags have sent me (and I drooled over, as always!)

EA who lost out on the Gucci bag on Tresor, decided to just get this yummy Gucci patent blue monogram (Guccisima) bag, which is just equally stunning :)

JE who has this beautiful LV mini monogram bag and Dior *drooool* white D bag. Tsk tsk... :) Sinfullll :D hehehe

And our very own baghag homme JP who came home with his LV Ouvea bag. Damnit, now I am realllly jealous! I love the bag!! Congrats babe!

Night hags! I need rest. I hate having the flu :(

xo

P.S. Baghags, send in photos of your bags! Email to tresor@compass.com.ph and please make sure your photo is LESS THAN 100kb in size or it could bounce back to your server :D

Kelly bag makes a sugary debut

2006-06-01T12:11:00.000+08:00

You know you're a bag addict when:

You plan your bag's proper "coming out" by attending a party. Case in point-- ME and my Kelly (ding ding, bag addict!!)

I planned to take my pink Hermes Kelly to the book launching party of Pastry Bin's Penk Ching.

There was another event tonight, the launch of bags by Luis Espiritu for Tru (err, apparently my invitation to that launch is left at my former office), so I didn't go to that one (hello, I social climb, but I don't gate crash... at least not yet hahaha) although I did pass by the place since I was at Rockwell this afternoon.

So, it was to Penk Ching's book launch, that the pink Kelly will make its first public appearance. :D *addict! addict! err... pathehhhhtiiiic!!!*

The party was held at the Rigodon Ballroom of the Manila Peninsula. Prior to that, I had a rush meeting with bag hag TS (who is just gooooooorgeous!!!!). It was off for both of us to The Pen.

Bag hag in swinging action-- I whipped out that camera and started shooting, of course!

The best wedding photographer in town and the baghag's good friend Patrick Uy, with Philippine Star/ People Asia editor Joanne Rae- Ramirez (and beside them, a beautiful pagoda cake with crystal drops, made by cake masters Penk Ching and sister Shen Ratilla)

Fibre's Margie Duavit (woohoo with her Chanel bag!!)
Audrey Tan- Zubiri with mom Dette, and Tintin Bersola- Babao (carrying Louis Vuitton)
Inquirer's Sea Princess Tessa Valdes-Prieto with that fantabulous gown and *Wolfwhistle* her Bea Valdes Bag (on the very left side of the photo is a lady carrying a Gucci bag with pink leather trim)
Here are two more cakes that just blew me away (made me wish my wedding cake was this one haha)

London stripes cake (inspired by Paul Smith)
The immaculate cake with heavy drapery that resembles fabric and not sugar!
Oh, and just to prove to you that even cake masters like Penk Ching and Shen Ratilla are bag hags, they made an edible version of the Bea Valdes Bag :D Too good to eat!! (photo credit: Caked in Sugar)

Now, peeps, go get the awesome cake book, CAKED IN SUGAR, which will be available at leading bookstores :)

P.S. A few baghags came up to me and were surprised that Hermes made Kelly bags in bright colors too. So I'm glad I toted this baby. I have successfully disproved the perception that Kelly bags are for "older" people (ouch, but wait, I AM a matronista... Muwahaha!). Anyway, I think more ladies see the Kelly in a different light now, now that they know that they do come in bright colors too :D *WOOHOO that's one small step for the bag hag, one giant leap for Hermes!! Watch out Hermes, the baghags are gonna come a-knockin not for Birkins but for Kellys!! :D)

TRESOR's new consigned loot + Much Ado about CHANEL

2006-05-31T00:00:00.000+08:00

Today was not wasted. I was up and running errands early in the AM (yes, morning, like a normal person for a change). Then I had a series of meetings in the afternoon for woowooo more, more bags, which will include:

1. Tods yellow suede bag (Brand new with dustbag at 35k) *will take photo of the bag tomorrow because bag came in late already*

2. Gucci monogram canvas shopping tote in blue (the new style!) with striped blue-red-white handles (new with tag and dustbag-- this style is sold out at Gucci, for Php 22k) *note: Bag hag JY has this exact same bag and I was actually asking her earlier she likes hers and she said it was a real easy bag to use. I would have normally bought this bag, but seeing how I'm in a dire financial strait, I'd have to pass (bawl)*

3. Louis Vuitton monogram canvas Speedy 30 with shoulder strap (very nice and even colored patina, with lock and keys for Php 27k-- no dustbag) *LV is planning a price increase fairly soon, and the Speedy right now is at 35.8k and the strap is about 5.5k. The bag would retail 41k(+-) if you buy this Speedy in-store new*

and of course, the highlight, 2 Chanel pieces!

Baghag PC's (who allowed her initials to be mentioned) Chanel collection is enviable, and has decided to let 2 of them go. And you hags see them here first! :D

Left: Chanel classic 2.55 CC lambskin (matelasse) quilt leather bag with intertwined lambskin+chain straps that can be doubled over (see bottom photo) or slung across the body (if you don't double the strap over the bag flap). The bag is still in superb condition, and measures 7"L x 5"H x 2.5"W; strap when doubled measures a drop of 8.75"/ if strap remains single, it's drop is 21".This bag has very minimal scratches, barely visible. Gold hardware has no tarnish. The authenticity card as well as the dustbag are included with this purse. Retail now for this bag is approx. Php 73,000 converted. Her selling price is Php 27,000. This is a CLASSIC Chanel piece! (In fact, my very first Chanel was exactly like this bag, which I had saved up 6 months of my allowance for when I was still studying!!)

Right: Chanel classic CC lambskin (matelasse) quilt backpack with a small exterior pocket and intertwined lambskin+chain straps. The bag body itself is in very good condition, there are minimal scratches on the bottom of the bag (which also has a stitched-in Chanel logo). The bag measures 8"L x 9"H x 4"W (expandable width). The chain straps of the bag have some oxidation (I am thinking perhaps this can be cleaned with a metal cleaner), and the leather on the straps have slightly dulled. The bag overall is in good condition. The gold hardware on the double C clasps in front are shiny and have no tarnish. The interior of the bag is very clean, although the hologram sticker is no longer there. The bag comes with its original dustbag. There is no question about the bag's authenticity (seller guarantees money back if the bag was found not authentic-- likewise I also guarantee the bag's authenticity. It's an authentic Chanel bag). She was the first owner of this backpack and had purchased it at the Chanel boutique in Beverly Hills. This bag would retail about Php 61,000 now, and her selling price is only Php 18,000!!! (This is a steal, hags!) I still remember wanting this exact style in silver, but they only had a gold available, so I ended up with a gold one (which I had later sold for Php 30k, pre-Tresor!).

Additional photos provided so you can sorta know how the bag would look like when carried :D *Snicker snicker* Disclaimer: Please don't scrutinize my outfit because we have already long established that I am no fashion plate *be kind to animals hahaha*
That's the Chanel 2.55 when carried with the chain strap looped over the flap (to shorten strap).
And here's the cute backpack! I love lambskin leather. It's sooo buttery soft!! *psst, I know, I know, wide ass muwahaha*

Chanel has gone royal too. From the late Princess Diana (who had the exact same sized 2.55 bag as above when she visited Paris), to Denmark's Crown Princess Mary (seen here with a Chanel "7 series" bag *which has brushed gold hardware cubes with CC engraved* on a recent shopping trip in London's Knightsbridge), to Spain's Infanta Elena who likewise carried a pink classic 2.55 (easter holiday 2006)! *photo credit: Face to Face Photo Press*

Oh and before I forget, I am posting my loot here. First photo: Books! The 2 Christie's catalogs of Princess Margaret's collection that Viscount Linley put up on the auction block. A Japanese magazine which had all these designer bags (take note. CHANEL on the cover!!). A mini Hermes booklet detailing the types of leather and color as well as styles of Hermes bags (geez now if only I can read Japanese letters...) *Don't worry, I will share photos with you all! :D*

And here's that BLING necklace I mentioned :D It's faux bling of course, but makes for a funky neckpiece haha. And oh my Mickeyballs pink tiara :) *hehe for the royal wannabe baghag in Disneyland :D*

Sorry for disappointing you hags, but hey, a bag hag's wallet has to rest too, after all that abuse it took! :) Til the next new bag comes along :D *Let's hope, soon, shall we? Now, I am still on that Hermes high, but seeing these Chanel bags made me wanna keep and Buy Chanel too! TSK. Chanel + Hermes= financial disaster (more horrific than Black Monday '87--the single day largest stockmarket crash in history) :D *and let's not even bring in Goyard into the equation!*

P.S. My HK trip has gotta be the cheapest trip I've ever been on! :) And arguably one of the best :D

Bag Hag in Hong Kong again Day 1-2

2006-05-30T00:02:00.000+08:00

So now that we have gotten the fact (that I did NOT buy any bags) out of the way, let me tell you about the lovely things I saw *hum: "These are a few of my favorite things..."*

1. Globetrotter cabin luggage. Of course it HAD to be a bag. *hehe always number one on a baghag's list!!* I saw this beauty and was bowled over. A Japanese guy was lugging this around before he came to a halt, sat down, and read the paper. Meanwhile I was waiting for that moment, camera in hand *ala paparazzi*, before I took a shot of his luggage. After taking the shot, he looked my way and I had to pretend I was checking out my camera. *snicker, bad bad*

2. Our hotel room view at Park Lane (see that tall structure on the mid-right? Beside that bldg was where my office used to be :D *hum: Memories...*). We got real lucky (either that, or I charmed the guy at the check-in counter *muwahahaha boy oh boy are we full of ourself today! haha*) because we got an upgrade to a room with a view! Price for the room we had paid for: US$150/ night. Price for the free upgrade: Priceless! *hehe to borrow the line from Mastercard*

3. Disneyland entrance! YAY, finally we arrive at La Disneyland! We just touched down HK about an hour and a half before we headed out to Disneyland. It was Friday. We knew Saturday that the chances of rain were 70%. Sunday was out of the question.

4. Madhatter Tea Cups ride. Holy cow. So my family and I took to this ride TWICE. The second time was wayyy more violent a ride than the first. We decided to spin, spin, spin :) It was thrice the fun, fun, fun too! But reminder: Do NOT eat anything before going spin, spin, spin or your food will come out, out, out :D

5. Japanese girl in all white who was with her all black goth boyfriend. I actually first thought she was the Little Bo Peep character... seriously!! But then of course I realized, err no staff, no sheep... Besides, Little Bo Peep was no Disney character... (ding ding! A-ha! Harajuku girl?) I have to admire this lady. I wouldn't wear this outfit to Disneyland for fear kids might want their photos taken with me, thinking I'm some character from Disney :D *it was truly an honest mistake, but doesn't this lady deserve some serious fashion brownie point? :) Took lotsa guts to pull off this outfit!*

6. DONALD DUCK waving to us!! :D He is my fave character (not the lady in #4 *hehe. ok that was mean, soweee*. Donald reminds me of me when I'm PMSing. Just ask DH :D *muwahahaha* (Rats, I hope DH doesn't read this haha)

7. Main Street at night. Nothing more beautiful than walking through Main Street with all the lights gleaming in the dark, beckoning tourists and kids to come and shop, shop, shop! We were meanwhile, too cheap to buy anything *muwahahaha seriously. Except for a hat for our DT (dear toddler) and a little hairband *cough my tiara* with two metallic pink mickeyhead balls *hehehe which I wore, which made me look SOOOO looney that I loved it! hehe I wore it well I think!*

8. Sleeping Beauty's Castle at night. It was small, but it was real pretty at night. And while I stared at the castle, my mickeyhead balls tiara bobbed up and down, side to side *snicker, see how deluded I am hahaha*

9. Fireworks display atop the Castle. How pretty! :D

We got back to our hotel room at 9.45 pm already. So yes, I was not able to attend the Christie's cocktail party :( But tomorrow, something better at Christie's awaits this bag hag :D

DAY 2

We all woke up late. Natch. Total flat tire from the day before. Disneyland romp went for a good 5- 6 hours. Today, we relax. Besides, it was raining. Blah. That doesn't leave us with much choices on how to spend our day. Sorry, no Ocean Park. But today's damp weather won't stop me from going to Wanchai to see Princess Margaret's jewellery (and the other jewels on display for auction in HK on June 1). I take my marine blue Goyard fidji for a spin. You know, rain and all :D *You know you trust the brand when you take the bag out on a rainy day*

We went to our my old milk curd haunt for lunch first, briefly passing by Milan Station and France Station. Check it out! France Station has an Hermes 28cm togo kelly in fuchsia (beside that lady's head hehe)! I later asked and the price was about US$5,866 (yikes, and this is just a 28cm and Togo leather). Milan Station had some Goyard bags-- (no Fidji though) a Jeanne PM, and St. Louis PM in four colors: maroon, green, red, black. There were also the usual lot of LV bags, Gucci, and Balenciaga (emerald green city, bubblegum pink first, a beat up magenta city, a beat up black day bag, and a few weekender bags), Chloe Silverado & Paddingtons (there was one in silver, anthracite), Chloe Edith (craie, camel), Hermes Evelyn, Marc Jacobs Stam, Chanel silver (or is it gold) shopper, Fendi Spy (chocolate, white, caramel), Fendi B Bags, Chanel reporter bag, YSL muse. I was in a hurry because I had to make a lame excuse to head out of the restaurant (and into the 2nd hand bag store to snoop haha).

After our lunch, OHMAHGAWD it was already 3pm! We rushed off to Wanchai, to go to Christie's exhibit hall to see the *WOOHOO* Princess Margaret jewellery at the HK Convention Centre, where they are currently on display. I logged onto their registry as "Press", thinking that would give me carte blanche to take photos of the pieces. Alas, Philippine Press amounted to nothing in their vocabulary. I was not exempt from the no-photos rule :( *CRUD!!*

Hmm so what was I gonna see today? Perhaps a brooch or pin of the Princess? We took the escalator to the 3rd floor, where all the items to be auctioned off were displayed (HK auction in June 1 included Magnificent Jewellery and Jadeite, important watches, and paintings). I am uneducated when it comes to paintings, so I skipped that and went straight for the "kill": Jewellery and Important watches.

Princess Margaret's jewellery did NOT disappoint. In fact, the whole HK trip (from yesterday to today), was WELL WORTH every cent (even if I did not go shopping). Princess Margaret's Poltimore Tiara was on display!!!!!! That beautiful piece of royal jewellery, is ON DISPLAY IN HK!! And the exquisite (and historical) diamond riviere! The center stone alone is 7 carats!! It was likewise on display! Two of the most important pieces in her collection are in Hong Kong!! I would've fainted, but my instinct told me to hold that off or make a complete fool out of myself in front of the viewing public who came to see the jewels, not a woman who fainted at the sight of jewels :D *muwahahaha* (FOR MORE INFO AND PHOTOS OF THE JEWELLERY I SAW, PLEASE CHECK OUT ALLTHINGSEXPENSIVE.BLOGSPOT.COM)

Oh and here's SOMETHING for the bag hags out here who can cough up the dough for a ROYAL piece. It's a Louis Vuitton Jewellery box in cowhide leather, with the initials of Princess Margaret, and a tag which says "Her Royal Highness The Princess Margaret". Bidding for this piece begins at £500. Anyone wanna bid for this? :D *and be crowned ROYAL BAG HAG* wooohoooo!!!!!

Apres Christie's, we passed by the Gallery shop which had this cute print bag (right row, center). Didn't really bother to ask anymore about the price since we were sorta racing against time and weather (rain was sporadic). We took the Star Ferry over to Tsim Sha Tsui's Ocean Terminal, where my DH bought me an extra memory card for my camera *awww that was soo sweet of him :)*. We took DT to Toys R Us, where we pretty much stayed the whole time (nope, not even a visit to Harbour City mall... Bottega, Joyce... boohoo NOPE!). After what seemed like hours, we finally walked out of the mall toward the MTR, where we passed by LV (nope, did NOT even go in *boy someone, please be proud of me-- at least I didn't go swipey swipey with my card!) then Dior (hmm check out that Bugatti/ Alma shaped bag.. Interesting), before hitting Fendi (where I was able to peek inside with my EYES *take note, I did not physically go inside*)-- I saw a few Spy bags and in fact, saw one in BRONZE (bottom left bag in the photo) ... OoooOh I was soooooo tempted, believe me... DH asked me if I wanted to take a peek inside. I declined. Too much temptation. The house of Sin is not gonna lure me into their trap. Not this trip.

Thank Gawd it sorta drizzled again, so we had to make a run for the MTR station :) Wheee!!! The bag boutiques lost!! :D *haha oh this is really behavior unbecoming of a bag hag!!*

Not to disappoint, we made a quick stop to Central, to visit Harvey Nichols (ahem, Goyard), only long enough to get a bag for someone (no, not me-- please, bear in mind, I am REALLY financially incapacitated). DT was already sleepy so we had to head back to the hotel.

P.S. Our dinner consisted of noodles inside this plastic thingie. There was a stand that made you choose which noodle you want, along with which "topping" you like (hotdog, quail egg, booktripe, beef, seaweed, little octopus, cuttlefish, crabsticks, clams), then they mix it with some mystery sauce and lots of freshly minced garlic. Then you eat it using 2 wooden barbeque sticks (as chopsticks!). It was really yummy, and only HK$10!!

OK, enough talk for now. Please do check out http://allthingsexpensive.blogspot.com for more on jewels that were at Christie's :)

Tomorrow I post my loot. Books and accessories. Sorry, no bags!! :(

P.P.S. I spent my day yesterday (May 29) with my Daddy at the cemetery. He would have been 69 years old now, if he were still with us :( *sigh* I hope he is happy and celebrating his cumpleaños wherever he is... I miss you Dad...

Back in Manila

2006-05-29T01:59:00.000+08:00

Hi hags!
I'm back in Manila. So tired, after running after a toddler with DH :-) Though I can't tell you how much fun we all had even though we were all tired out!

Disneyland was fun, it was not so big, so we were not really overwhelmed. But I was a bit disappointed though. I was thinking that Sleeping Beauty's castle would be sooo big, but it was rather small (well it was still big, but smaller than what I thought. Hmph am I jaded? *duh!*)

Anyway, I might as well tell you all now (since you were all wondering what loot I brought home this time). I did not get anything at all. No bags. NOTHING, NADA.

WHY? Because I know if I make another purchase, I will never be able to pay for it. I know my limits. Sad that I can't buy any new bag (especially since I saw a Lanvin Kentucky bag and a Moschino Pasta bag-- SO DAMN CUTE), but I really can't afford it right now :(

I need to still pay off the Kelly :( *bawl*. So that is reality check for me. Funny I talk about being broke, a person left a comment on my previous post, asking how I can afford all these expensive bags. But the thing is, I can't afford ALL these expensive bags. If the reader read carefully, I did note in previous posts that I am letting some of the bags in my collection go, to pay for the new ones. Hello ding ding :) I don't own a diamond mine or gold mine for that matter (if I did, I'd have bought a huge property in Lake Como and be neighbors with George Clooney *hehe*)

I am proud of myself despite having failed to wow you all as a bag hag :D At least commend me for knowing when to say no to new bags!! Money needs to be saved for June-- school opening = tuition fee!

I will be blogging more about my trip tomorrow, and photos of my small loot:

1. Christie's catalog of Princess Margaret's private collection (jewellery and other things)
2. Two Japanese magazines (containing photos of bags! *WOOHOO*)
3. A cheap tee :D
4. Faux bling necklace
5. Faux crown earrings (*teehee feeling royal!*)

There ya go :D All listed! Now, let me get shuteye. I think I deserved it. Today is my Daddy's birthday. He would have been 69 :(

Wherever you are Daddy, I miss you, I love you, and Happy Birthday! I really wish you were still with us. You would've been proud of me during our recent trip to HK. Seriously.

Photos up tomorrow hags!! Bear with me :)

xo

More on the Hermes Kelly and the Mystery Location

2006-05-26T00:00:00.000+08:00

Yay yay yay the secret is SOOO OUT already. I can now sleep better at night (not well yet-- hello, debt debt haha)! Thank you thank you thank you for all your well wishes and heart-bloating comments, Princess Kelly (oh great, now I am naming my bags too) is so flattered :D

So hags, as promised, here are more + larger photos for everyone.
And here's one with cousin Paris-Cannes :D (That orange thing is the felt protection flap for the hardware)
And another photo taken at night (avec camflash)

Ok that's that. And now, about the mystery location? Ok ok, I am flying off to HK with DH and our DB (dear baby-- although the baby is now a toddler haha). No, NO SHOPPING. KO emailed me and told me not to be a Spenderella again *guffaw!! I LOVE that girl!!!* Not this time. Especially not with DH around (you GOTTA be kidding! his idea of shopping with me is ME accompanying HIM to see all those electronic thingies for the game consoles he has... Tsk, that, is SHEER TORTURE!! *bawl haha* Tsk, I'll be nice. I'll accompany him *cough* shopping. :D)

Anyway, here's another piece of news that will make all social climbing hags proud of me! :D *beam* I am so honored to be invited to Christie's cocktail party tomorrow night by Christie's ambassadress FR (see where your social-climbing hag has climbed to? :D). I brought along my Balenciaga dress (woohoo mileage!!!) just in case I can attend, although have yet to find out if I can attend at all! Because that would mean leaving DH and DB alone (ohdear! Disaster becomes them? hahaha!!) Anyway I guess you hags will find out on Monday if I did go. One thing for sure though, I will be going to see Princess Margaret's jewels which will be on display in HK Convention Centre before going under the hammer in London in June. YES! Royalista at work!!!! No, I have NO plans to bid on anything, thank you-- unless someone out there is generous enough to bid on the more important pieces, like perhaps, the Poltimore tiara, which I can conceivably wear next time I go to Goyard Paris *here's to that really silly European nobility excuse!!*, so I can get those damn crowns handpainted on my bag *muwahahaha pathetic.* (by the way, go check out my other site, allthingsexpensive.blogspot.com where I made a new post on ROYAL Jewelry, which included the Poltimore tiara *what else! hehe*)

Friday - Sunday is reserved for family, and it's Disneyland :D So, more than likely, there won't be posts in this space for those days. And I assure you, I WILL be undergoing serious internet withdrawal. I will, however be bringing my mobile phone with me. So just in case something comes to mind, i.e. some hag decides about wanting a bag (i.e. a GOYARD haha!), you can send me a message at +63916-7580857! Hopefully my phone works (think: Motorola Razr LCD cracks and all). Also, no guarantee I can buy it-- depends really if I can leave DB with DH :D (but I assure you peeps, I am NOT shopping anymore. Not after that Amex bill which has pretty much financially incapacitated me and seriously wiped me out til kingdom come. *bawl*)

P.S. If you send me a message, please make sure to include your name. Because my phone mem is apparently getting affected with this. Damn the phone must be really going koo-koo :(

P.P.S. To my dearest friend MG-- be patient, your LV Damier Speedy will be with you soon :D

P.P.P.S. And if you do see a new post this weekend, think 2 things-- there might be an impostor, OR I might be sneaking off to post *haha yes yes, sneaky hag.. ok ok*

Be good this weekend, peeps!!! :D

The BIG surprise + the baghag's shortlist for Spring Cleaning

2006-05-25T00:00:00.000+08:00

My day went so well today until tonight, when I went to the Powerplant Mall to watch Da Vinci Code again with my DH and ILs. Anyway I will spare you all from the unpleasant details, but let me tell you this-- I was mortified. Bottom line, it got straightened out, although I'm sure one can't help but feel the sting of the wound if one were in my shoes. Ah well, there are good days and there are bad days, right? :) Positive thinking, positive thinking, shampoohag Jen says :D

Anyway, enough talk about crappy matters. Guess what, I am heading off to some mystery place over the weekend. No, no more shopping involved. You kidding? I am not even anywhere near the vicinity of financial recovery yet!! In fact, I seriously DOUBT if I will ever financially recover!! :( You see, I've been harboring a very deep and dark secret from all of you since my last trip. I think it's high time I reveal it. So here it is, the cause of all my pain, suffering, debt, debt, and more debt!!!! (Ok, don't fingerpoint and say I'm bragging, because I can't really be given the right to brag-- hello?! DEBT? Want this bag? You can have my debts too hehe package deal!)

Lo and Behold, the newest member of the Baghag household:Hermes 35cm Fuchsia Chevre de Coromandel Kelly with Palladium Hardware. (I will take better shots of the bag tomorrow hopefully, if not, when I debut it-- the color is much more vibrant than in photos!) *Wolfwhistle* this baby just cost my kids their education. So next time you bump into them when they're older, and you wonder why they are ill- mannered and terribly uncouth, remember this post :D *muwahahaha what a weevil mom!!*

So in lieu of this new member of the household, I am but forced to take stock of all my other bags, and decide which bags are going, going, gone.

Here's a shortlist so far (and no, this list is not yet permanent).

1. LV Denim Baggy PM-- I know, I know, you will tell me I will burn in bag hell for selling the bag that DH got me, but DH pointed this bag out as the first bag that should go-- so that he can say that he "did his part" by contributing to the fund for my new baby *muwahahaha* See, I can't possibly burn in bag hell if HE sanctioned the sale :D *clever eh?* Also, if this bag should go, I will throw in the extra long strap which I purchased on my own. *fine, call it excuses, but at least they are logical... somewhat. hehe*

2. LV Fuchsia Charms Pochette-- I have used this pochette once (and seen by baghags JY and JC in Greenbelt!) Why am I planning to sell this? Because although I love cute bags (cute that they're small), I can't really use them. My phones can't even fit inside, and my wallet (full of credit card receipts, no less) can't fit either *gasp*! So, when push comes to shove, the practicality factor has to prevail over the cuteness factor :(

3. LV Green Perforated Speedy 30 (take note, UNUSED, WITH plastic on handles)-- I will either use this bag for a bit, or sell it unused and in new condition. Hmm, decisions decisions!!

4. Liz Claiborne Pink Multi-pocket bag-- I enjoyed using this bag. But I have stopped using it altogether because all the bags have to time-share (woohooo as if the bags should feel honored that I chose to carry them! *puke, I'm soo full of it!*)

5. Chanel Fantasy Tweed Kelly-- Oh my goodness, this bag is still here! I felt so bad for her that I pulled her out of my bags for sale on Tresor. But to date, I have not yet even used her again when I promised I would :(

Anyway, on another note, a fairly new large Prada brown canvas bag (Priced at Php 38,000) with white leather trims just got consigned to Tresor, along with another black Bally leather bag in excellent condition (Priced at Php 13,000). Both bags are still not posted there though.

I hafta go sleep, my little imp is with us again tonight for the 2nd night in a row, and we got "commanded" to all go to sleep! :D

P.S. I am a proud wombat. Today, I made a Crocs convert out of my friend CathS :) She now is a proud owner of a pair of light pink Crocs-- By the way, I still think they are ugly, but they are HEAVEN on my feet! :) I don't really care about the gawks and stares-- at least my feet are finally getting some attention *muwahahaha*

P.P.S. This is so morbid. My dear bro (DB) has just called me informing me of my credit card bill. My jaw dropped... My head screamed "terms! terms!" *haha* and my mouth? Well, it's still wide open by the way :-O

Reconnoitering at Mall of Asia

2006-05-23T00:18:00.000+08:00

For lack of a better thing to do today (well actually there were tons to do-- i.e. pay my credit card bill *muwahaha ohhkayy, that's at the bottom of my to-do list*), my mom, my lil one, and I hopped over to the much talked about Mall of Asia, which opened its grand doors to le publique yesterday.

What's really so baffling about this placeis that it was swarmed with hundreds, even thousands of people on a Monday (!!! don't people have work to do??? I know I don't because I am jobless!) Was it to catch a whiff of the taipan air? (Mall master HenryS was there yesterday for the opening), or was it to find opportunities (err... to steal perhaps? Damn I betcha this country will be rich if there's a petty thieving industry here. Seriously, hags, hold on tight to your bags!!!) hehe.. ok that was not really funny, sorry *snicker*

Well OK. Confession: I came here to catch a whiff of the taipan air, in the hopes that his prosperity and luck will rub off on me, the otherwise known money jinx of town *muwahaha I can't even remember the last time I had ZERO expense on my credit card! See, I am a jinx for incurring mucho expense, and leaving ZERO on my bank account*. Anyway enough talk about me (as if I didn't have enough bragging sessions on my post yesterday, and I'm sure you all want to throw rocks my way already, but are just too well-mannered to do such a *shock* heinous baghag act).

We parked at the parking structure which charged Php 40 (man, they just opened and they are already hijacking us, and this ain't even Makati!). At the 4th level of the parking area, I was baffled with all that metal scaffolding. Our car went through an obstacle course, and almost HIT the damn metal scaffold-- the damn scaffolds were not meant for cars to pass through and yet the guards directed us there!! Ok, this is gonna be pretty bad on the Mall report card!! Tsk Tsk. Strike One.

Then the elevator ride from 4th floor parking to ground, was enough to suffocate my mom and my baby (I am used to this though, come on, you're talking to the trailerpark queenbee here! *hehe*). Tsk tsk, another negative mark on the Mall report card. Strike Two.

Once at groundlevel, things were ok. There were hoards of people everywhere! (And it was what, 3.30pm?) We went into the 2nd of 4 buildings first, which housed stores like Izod, Schu, VNC, NafNaf, Mossimo, and soon to open stores like Zara, Mango, Nullah. There was also this bag and shoe boutique I've never really heard of before, called U.R.S. I didn't bother going in, I was still mall reconnoitering. Actually it is rather hard to reconnoiter if you brought your child, who insists on riding on one of those pushy thingamajigs. I can't lug that thing up an escalator and I sure as hell can't expect my mom to do it for me :D Oh and we stopped by briefly to look at the huge skating rink (HUGE). Hmm....heyyyy that's Mount Everest right there! *hehee know-it-all!* Actually, this mall is beginning to remind me of the big mall in Hong Kong located at Kowloon Tong (Festival Walk).

So we just walked around the area a few times, went into SM (at SM, we've got it all for you.. hehe), then went toward the IMAX theater. There were also a few more shops on that side, but the corridors were no longer a/c'd. And today was a hot day. Incidentally, I think baghag JY saw me there *and didn't say hi! aww boo :-( *. I was mommy *cough* chic today, as in, real mom *sans nanny* (meaning, no makeup, hair pulled back hastily, and my Longchamp bag on my shoulder while my shirt gets pulled off by the weight. In other words, I looked like I was a victim of Typhoon Caloy, and I wasn't even anywhere near the cities that were hit by the typhoon. So there. You can now paint a very grim mental pic of me-- plus, I wore the uber ugly Crocs *haha*). That area with no a/c though, led out to this "auditorium" (noooo this isn't the Imax theater, silly *hehe*)-- you can get first class tickets to see the sun set. Awww how romantic :D *wink*

This Mall of Asia is indeed huge, but there are still so many spaces for letting. (By the way, for the boys-- there is a huge Astrovision, and 3 speciality bookstores-- one of which will soon open) So I guess it would be nice to come back in a few months' time, when all spaces are already leased out to interesting establishments.

Food though, is one thing this place has an abundance of. For instance, my favorite favorite place to eat, is Pho Hoa, and wooha, they have Pho Hoa! Another place which serves my fave Coffee bun is open, Kopi Roti (Quick holler to SharT-- is this kopi place yours?? *woohooo*)

We didn't realize the time when we left the place-- it was already almost 7pm, and we had spent almost 3 hours-- and bought NOTHING (except food haha) :D *someone please be very proud of me*

Tsk speaking of food, I need to lose weight. I have been eating nonstop (my daily salty fix!) and I have gotten so bloated that it's no longer funny. I can't fit into my clothes. But I now have a reason to lose the weight and stop the binge--

FREELOADER ALERT: Baghag MT of Naga sent me THESE! I swear, this lady is feeding my freeloading frenzy! I not only got these two cool tanktops (on top of the pink tanktop she already gave me in the past which I loooove to wear), I also got awww these cute things! One is a bronze coinpurse and the other is a pewter leather phonepouch much like the poire! And well, you don't see the other item she sent me because, well, I have sorta... started eating it.. Choco Macadamia!!! Lady, you are getting me into trouble here, how can I wear the tanks you got me if you expect me to devour the whole boxful of chocolates??? *bawl* :-D I love em though, Thank YOU!!

Anyway, that sure as heck made my day!! I am shallow, remember? And when hags show their thoughtfulness, it really makes me all mushy inside. And here I thought you hated me, hated my shallowness, my pathetic obsession, my nonstop blabbermouthing. Tsk, turns out, "You like me, you really, really like me!" (channeling Sally Fields when she accepted her Best Actress Oscar for the 2nd year in a row) :D *Oh Puke! Here we go again, feeling celeb!*

BRAG-A-BAG ALERT! Before this hag signs off, I'd like to finally post the newest addition to MBS' family, her LV Damier Speedy 30 (and yes she is the FIRST hag to get it in LV Greenbelt too!!) Love the bag girl, thanks for taking that photo in the boutique (now people will really know that LV bags do have plastic + cardboard on their handles!!) :D Love love love the bag! And can you imagine, you can use it everydayyy without worrying about a patina?!! TSK! Winner!!

Night hags!!! Sweet dreams! Meanwhile it's time for me to get some shuteye too. I might be surprising you guys with an outta this world post over the weekend. Again :) *keep fingers crossed!* (woohoo the anticipation is enough to make me sweat buckets *muwahaha eewww*)

xo

The Royal bag goes to the Palace woohoo

2006-05-22T00:01:00.000+08:00

Ahhh life can truly be a great thing if one becomes a privileged spectator to some parties. Well in my case, I ain't even the invited one. The ones invited were my children. But heck, since I am such a vulgar hag who has tendencies to gatecrash, I did gatecrash today (much to the chagrin of my friends who thought I had more "class" *muwahaha* yup, but they didn't realize I DO have class, "cattle class" that is!!)

So tonight, my amiga goes, "Holy cow, nooo way you didn't gatecrash" to which I said proudly, "ahh yes, but see, no one invites ME to parties anymore, the ones getting all these invites are my kids! What's a social climbing hag to do but gatecrash?!" Today was the day I realize that my part in this society, is actually non- existent (hello, my invitation did not even mention my name! haha) :D

Anyway, the party was held at the *woohoo*, Palais Royale de Manille (aka Malacañan Palace hehe), to celebrate the 1st birthday of MoniqueA.

I arrived in my finery (avec my royal sac de Goyard, no less *gloat*) . After all, when can I ever wear such finery again? And my DH arrived in pauper chic. No wonder people whisper behind my back saying I squandered off my DH's money for myself and left none to him... he was dressed like a pauper! Muwahaha the princess (me) *ewwww how dare I even suggest, spit spit on me!* and the pauper (him) *ahh and I won't even refute that haha weeevil!!!* My DH really married a social climbing, pretentious, feeling royal, bag hag biatch witch (and I ain't even Elizabeth Montgomery! *of Bewitched*) *muwahahahaha and I will one day crawl all the way to the pits of bag hell for this*

Tsk. Blah.. Anyway the party was in full swing when we arrived. My head was already spinning from that one once-over I did across the Ceremonial Hall. Hags, hags, hags everywhere!! I was too embarrased to ask them for photos of their bags (and them of course), but I managed to take one photo of one chic lady with a must-have bag. Here's SF with her Chanel bag *yumyumyum!*

And AngeA and WC who carried her powder blue Balenciaga Weekend Sac.

There were other ladies toting Pradas, Guccis and LVs (I saw 2 denim Speedies). Ok ok, I am a bad photojournalist. I didn't have the galls to ask them for their photos. After all, I knew absolutely no one here (tsk, gatecrashed, remember?). At least after ogling at the bags, I was able to enjoy some yummy kiddie food and more--
mini nachos, mini pizzas, cheesesticks, barbeque, shawarma, Mongolian grill, mini franks, FIC icecream, Cotton Candy, french fries, chocolate fondue.... darn, did I miss anything?

The party doesn't get any better than this. After all my food bingeing, Grandma PGMA and Grandpa FGMA came into the hall (and they both got swarmed with peeps-- briefly after this photo was taken!)

Sigh :) It's great to see grandparents PGMA and FGMA onhand, as their granddaughter blew the candle to her Carebear birthday cake :-D. Aww I still remember Carebears.... Sigh, ok I won't linger onto that thought any longer, or people will really begin to count the years... and my age will be revealed *eeek*

That's all this bag hag can talk about tonight. Enough bragging about my social climbing abilities *guffaw guffaw*. I still feel terrible about not having bag photos taken-- tsk, I realize now, how cool would it be to have a photo of my bag taken against the Malacanan Palace as backdrop :) *ok, if I truly did that, I could be thrown into some mental asylum for bag addicts who went "overboard"* hehehe.. I digress.

Night hags :D

P.S. pardon my biatchiness, I think I am PMSing :D *hehehe Uhh ooohhh*

Time for Spring Cleaning-- SOON

2006-05-21T00:07:00.000+08:00

It was sometime last year when I recalled getting quoted at some publication that I kept the number of bags I own to somewhere between 10-15.

Well it's time now for me to reassess the situation. Because if I can still reiterate that quote above, then I might as well be tatooing my forehead with the word "hypocrite". Because right now, I have more than 15 bags in my closet. I know, I've been trés mal. I don't need to be crucified (yet) because there are still "worse" (in a GOOD way, take note) bag hags than I :D *hehee*

Case in point, this hag who wishes not to be named-- at one point, accumulated this much! By the way, these are NOT mine (thank Goodness they aren't or I'd have to take a job as a dishwasher for twenty restaurants to start paying for my debt!). *SHOCK*. Actually I was pretty shocked at the number of bags my fellow Alva boardies can accumulate. Now, THEY are deserving of the title "bag addicts" :D

Going back to my being a bag hypocrite, I have just counted the number of bags lurking in my closet. Designer bags (Chloe, Balenciaga, Hermes, Chanel, Gucci, Goyard, LV, Prada, Bottega Veneta, Marc by Marc Jacobs, Bally, Roberta di Camerino) count: 25.

Oh my Gawd :( (but hey, there are people who have what, 100 designer bags?!) To think I've already sold a few of my bags! I hate it. I need more self- control. Plus I think I gotta remind myself of my credit card bills *scream!!!*

I guess it's really hard to let bags go somehow. I keep thinking there is no way I will sell iconic bags... Sigh, I gotta start detaching myself from my other babies, or I'll end up with more bags and no money :(

Hags, it's confession time. Now that I have made my peace with the bag Gods by revealing the number of bags in my closet, it's time you reveal yours!!! Send in your # of bags to me by leaving me a comment on this post :)

BRAG-A-BAG ALERT:
PG got herself the beautiful Bulga bag, and she says "the bag is sooooooo soft". Girl, we believe you! Bulga uses premium leather, and that bag is gorgeous! Congratulations on your new baby :)

P.S. I will need to trim down the number of bags in my closet... soon... And when that happens, I will be posting the bags here, first :) *Time for Spring Cleaning!!!!*

P.P.S. My girl friend KG who is in Canada now, may be reading this blog :) *I miss you girl!!!!*

P.P.P.S. I got an email from my SA at Goyard saying they will no longer be accommodating custom handpainting orders for "crowns" (aka something like my woohoo croisiere 35), because apparently European nobility were complaining that the crown "logos" were not to be given out to *cough* commoners (how dare!!). Ouch right? haha I guess this goes to sho that "commoners" will have to live by the blindstamp "You can take the girl out of the trailerpark, but you can't take the trailerpark out of the girl" *muwahahaha that would be ME! Pttoooey bluebood... My bootie!*

Sooo anyway, I guess I will be left with 2 Goyard bags with crowns on them. Which only means one thing-- now that Goyard will cease to allow crowns to be painted onto their bags, Your royal hagness, the baghag, Mrs. T, is now Bag royalty *muwahahahahaha AS IF!!* :D Well anyway that was pretty snooty of some euro royales but it's ok. I can handle snootery. After all, what's a gal from the trailerpark gotta do? Complain ? *and to whom? hehehe* Custom stripes and monogramming however, will continue :)

By the way, I have posted something new at ALLTHINGSEXPENSIVE.BLOGSPOT.COM so please do check it out!!

Have a good weekend folks!! xoxo

Da Vinci Code with DP + A Brag a Bag Post

2006-05-19T00:08:00.000+08:00

This lucky bag hag got a chance to watch Da Vinci Code for lunch in place of a proper meal (at 12 noon). Thanks to DaphP, (sigh, Mrs.T, forever the leech! Pry me offf!!! hehehe) I saw the movie before anyone else in my family *muwahaha bragging rights!!!!*

Words I will use to describe the 2 hr 45 min long movie: powerful and gripping. That's my take. I know there've been so much negative criticism about it, but heck, it was to me, one of the best "blockbuster" movies produced this year (so far). Anyway I'll leave the rest of the critiquing to you. So go watch it!!

Freeloader alert today: So since the movie was also co-sponsored by HSBC, (Quick holler to MinaO. :-D) we got free lunchboxes with yummy Cibo gourmet sandwiches to go along with an apple, a box of popcorn, and a bottle of water (see, this is how LOW I am willing to go to get free stuff!!) My trusted nana (who's been with me since I was a 6 month old wailin' biatch) ended up with the nice, insulated lunchbox which she can give her daughter to use. My kids already have tons of lunchboxes from all those parties they attended-- tsk, their social life is certainly better than mine :D Heheecute lil socialclimbers like mommy *Weeeevil mom!!!*

BRAG-A-BAGS:

Preggy baghag MBS texted me today. Said that the LV Damier Speedy (photo credit: Janice S. of ebay id babestaaa) is now available at the LV boutique. I was also told that she is the first woman to get her hands on it. Ok now, woman, you HAVE to take a photo of the bag. Lotsa hags wanna see it!! Please model the bag for us to see!!

I also got a real nice email from baghag MPR of San Diego, who sent me a photo of her bag for summer in her zoomzoom nice car :) WOoHoo that bag is muy delicioso!!! (Bag: LV White satin glitter cabas with lizard trims)

Another bag-lovin' young mom JY and her friend JC *wink* went to Gucci this afternoon, where JY bought her lovely blue-tone monogram Gucci shopping tote. Such a yummmmy bag!! And that blue is perfect for those jeans too!

And hot mama CT of Cagayan, who got this beautiful Gucci pochette *bling* for Mother's Day-- courtesy of her DH! *Awwww*

Tsk, all that eye candy worked up my appetite, and indeed, the perfect way to end a wonderful day is, to have dinner at my fave Japanese restaurant (which has since moved from the old place at Pasay Road, and into this new one-- see below)

Sushi just got better :-D and it certainly has! Tsumura (known to others as Sushi Tsumura) is now located at 2/F 88 Corporate Center, Sedeño Corner Valero Street, Salcedo Village Makati City. For those of you who have not been there yet, be prepared because the sushi will blow you away. I had the Sashimi plate good for two people (yes I gobbled EVERYTHING up-- too bad no photo, my trusted camera battery died on me!!). The platter was really HUGE, something not many can finish. But for Php 1,600 it will get you full and to the sushi heavens!!

Worth trying as well are their fried oysters and Ankimo (angler fish "foie gras"). For reservations or inquiries, call 887-4848 to 50. I promise photos the next time I head out there (sooon!!!). *By the way, Tsumura is owned by the same folks who brought you Kuretake at Rockwell! So you can be guaranteed of excellent food!*

P.S. I'll do a meatier post tomorrow. I suddenly had reason to feel bad. See P.P.S. below

P.P.S. on a rather sad note, my hotpink Motorola Razr phone's LCD got sooo busted (yup those black lines-- the broken LCD), after I accidentally dropped the phone (while it was closed). This is the end of my motoRazr. I had it checked and it will cost Php 4,500 to replace it with a new LCD screen! forget it. I realize now this is just a "disposable" phone :( Motorola, tsk you guys should do something about your phones. They may be light as a feather, but they hit the ground and THAT'S IT FOLKS! :( Soo, if you know the Motorola PR people, this is the time to enlighten them with this incident. Take note too, my phone fell on a parquet floor. NOT pavement. :( *I'm not asking for a new phone, just asking for my phone to get fixed-- free of charge, muwahaha freeloader!!!*

A virtual Barneys adventure (not the purple dino puhlease!)

2006-05-18T02:42:00.000+08:00

It has been awhile since I last paid Barneys a visit.

Thankfully, this visit proved fruitful. I found some nice things to see :D

Charlott Vasberg made this off- white small suitcase bag-- it is terribly cute, and the price is terribly good *woowoo!* at US$585 (remember how I once lamented that the better bags already cost in the upward amount of US$1,200?)

Another bag (in contrast), the Lanvin Laetitia leather and patent bag, costs US$2,230 and looks rather plain. But nevertheless this is a bag that would transcend trends and time. So perhaps it's a pretty safe purchase (if you like to keep a conservative selection of bags).

Jas MB's large Slitter bag, which is modestly priced at US$465 looks like an extended version of the Lanvin Hero bag (US$1,225). The Slitter is constructed with "washed" leather and comes in black and tan colors as well. I guess I'd go with this blue, since I am a jeans kinda gal (blue jean- colored bags are the "black" for jeans wearing gals hehe).

Ok that's all the bags I can handle for tonight. I guess I ended up burning the midnight oil, trying to finish an article :-D (They don't call me Queen of all procrastinators for nothing! Which reminds me, this is another reason why I CAN wear a tiara *muwahaha*)

P.S. I am such a blind dimwit. I was looking at an LV epi bag's datecode photo earlier and was truly baffled as to the bag's datecode validity. It read 1017 (my eyes told me they were 1017). So of course I raised the question with my Alva boardies, providing photos and all, and they all said I read wrong, it's 1917 (meaning bag was made on Oct. '97). See, this proves that I am blind, and a complete dingo. And shame on me for calling myself a bag hag *see, that also proves how self-righteous I am! Bawl!!* Ok, you can pelt me with rocks now, but while you are at it, can you give me a new set of eyes? *make sure they're not made of glass!* :-D

xoxo

Matisse's "Jackie O" and "Skip Hop" Diaper Bags

2006-05-17T00:00:00.000+08:00

So you should all be proud of me-- I was an early bird today *woohoo* and was able to do much more things that I normally wouldn't have been able to (since I wake up late-- well, I'm not lazy or anything *excuses excuses*, but I sleep at 4am on most if not all nights!!)

I met up with the owners of Matisse Bags-- more like the muses of Matisse-- these ladies are soo pretty! Let me also tell you what I think of their bags, and a brief 411 about the boutique.

I saw this boutique back when I had to pass by videographer Jason M's studio for a shoot. This slice of bag heaven is tucked away in one of the shops located at The Zone (a badminton court-- badminton lovers should know this place). And so finally, I get to meet the owners, and they sure didn't disappoint, because they are self-confessed bag hags as well!

Here are Denise and Monique of Matisse. Their bags are all made by a famed Thai designer named Jacky-- and a play on Jacky's moniker resulted in the brand "Jackie O."!

Bags include pebble grained leather hobos, jacquard and velvet clutches, and exotic leather (croc!) clutches as well (and my oh my, the price for a Jackie O. ostrich clutch with a bejewelled is honestly reasonable at Php 30,000-- trust me, for beautiful ostrich clutch elsewhere, you should expect to pay at least Php 50K for it).

What really caught my eye is the yummy electric blue hobo with studs and zipper teeth charm detail. You know, I don't know what it is about me and electric blue bags these days (think Fendi, Burberry), but this bag is reasonably priced at Php 10,900. This is real leather too, hags (not pleather). It's really not often you see sapphire blue colored bags (usually they are indigo, navy...). Hags, take a look at your bag closet. If you have far too many black bags, then it's time you buy a jewel toned bag, and THIS is IT!

I found something for Mommies-to-be in this boutique as well (and Mommies): Pssst, baghag MBS pay attention hehe-- Matisse also carries Skip Hop Diaper Bags and they are soooo affordable, at a starting price of Php 3,200 for the basic Duo bag, to Php 3,800 for the Expo and Dash styles. Celeb mention: Spotted with this diaper bag is Britney Spears. I know, I know, she is definitely no style icon BUT she made the right choice for a diaper bag (probably her only style decision that I approve of haha). I love it!! The Skip Hop diaper bags have also been mentioned in In Style Magazine, Oprah Magazine, US Weekly, Hello Magazine, Fit Pregnancy, and soooo many more publications!! For Philippines, these bags are available at Matisse. And I bought this bag: :D Two thumbs up as a diaper bag (and it's good enough for your man to carry too. No more cutesy patootsy diaper bags for him hehe).

I highly recommend bag hags to pass by this store, have a looksie. Bag prices begin at Php 4,100. There are also cute bag charms as well as leather cut-out necklaces like this one (priced between Php 3,300 - Php 4,400), which I will wear tomorrow :D *woohoo I can't wait!* (Freeloader alert freeloader alert!! *ding ding ding!!*)

Anyway, I am happy to have discovered this place. See, this is proof that we hags don't really need to go logo crazy all the time :) Check Matisse out at Unit 5-A, The Zone, Malugay Street Makati City. Tel. no. 893-5313.

P.S. OhmyGawd, this is TOOO cute not to post! Baghag MG bought her little baghag an LV mini sac HL to match her LV Speedy 30,and she was also able to find this shirt which looks identical to her daughter's shirt :D Tsk, girl, you and your little baghag are gonna be such headturners. And I actually hope to see you both in these!!! :D Thanks for the photo! (And by the way, I would Looove to be your daughter, please adopt me *hehehe*)

P.P.S. Congratulations are also in order for another baghag SharT, for getting engaged while she was in the US! She brought back some good news (apart from her new bags haha) :D And woohoo this bloggin' baghag got drizzled on with ST's loot! Thank youuuu for the super cute tee shirt and the See's nougat (it's no longer in my tummy heheheee eeew)

P.P.P.S. check out allthingsexpensive.blogspot.com for new blings :D

Neiman Marcus FIRST CALL SALE!!

2006-05-16T01:11:00.000+08:00

SALE SALE SALE ALERT!! Neiman Marcus announces the first day of its First Call Sale where you can save as much as 50% on selected items!

Cases in point (although we wish they were really 50% off!):

Bulga flap satchel in gold: This yummy bag was priced at US$405, and now it's reduced to US$304! You want bling, you can carry bling!! A really good alternative to the pricier metallic designer bags like Fendi, Chanel.

Kate Spade black canvas with green leather trim from the Easton collection: Now this bag is pretty. I am so partial to green, this is such a clever combination. Black body canvas works well for people who can't really maintain their bags clean (like me). Now if the bag had a green canvas body, I would not have recommended it. Priced now at US$184 (from original amount of US$245). Not a bad price at all for this bag!! This bag gets my stamp of approval because its design transcends trends and time (pretty basic!).

Cynthia Vincent leather studded bag: Set with rose- gold hardware and has stud details as well as a snap- down bow. I like the way the bag looks. In fact, I like ribbons and I like the way this bag slouches. For US$409 (down from US$545), it's a pretty decent buy.

Burberry embossed metallic hobo: Call me tacky if you want, but oooooh yummy!! Hats off to this electric blue (actually referred to as sapphire blue) hobo in embossed python leather! You can't really ask for more with this bag-- the brand itself is already two thumbs up, and the choice of color-- well, it's a great picker upper. It gives the word "feeling blue" a totally new meaning. So, you feelin' blue? Get this bag! :) *Sure beats getting that patent blue B.Fendi bag :D* Priced at US$487 (from US$697).

Sigh, it's tough to face sales when you have to undergo retail withdrawal *bawl* but such is life. Thank you Neiman Marcus for making life easy on us townfolk-- NOT! :D

On another note, I was lucky enough to have finished my article for CarloT. in time-- otherwise I'd be drowning in my work and not be able to sniff out the good buys at Neiman *tsk I think I should've just been immersed in my work and should've ignored Neiman.... NAH* hehe...

Anyway over the weekend (Mother's Day), we attended the wedding of a distant cousin (I wish we were really more closely related haha! Beautiful flowers, beautiful setup, and tsk, my, oh my!! All that bling! And I, the pauper relative *let's not even attempt to go into specifics or I'll just get depressed haha*). It was an awesome wedding-- the whole town was invited (practically!!) and we had a great dinner at Makati Shang, worthy of a mention in Zagat *woohoo*. It has been THAT long since I had haute cuisine... well, mass haute cuisine. Well put it this way, no one wants to treat me and we are just too cheap to pay for good food *muwahaha freeloading couple alert!!!*

Kidding aside, I was able to capture this photo at the wedding. The Philippines' most powerful "couple" cruising the friendly Philippine skies :D OK, I don't care for politics (and you can spare me from any political debate. This photo is just pure fun fun fun, and I don't know them both personally-- *ok, let me be the social climber and say, Oh yes I know them well and I am well connected *PUKE!!* muwahahaha*), but I would totally appreciate owning a fleet of airplanes *aka financial freedom* any day :) *wouldn't you?*

P.S. I managed to pick up 2 pairs of ballet flats at the Schu sale. I do know ShampHag JenT got herself 2 pairs too (which I shall see in a bit), but did anyone else snatch up Schu footsies as well?

P.P.S. a. This just in! Our very own bag hag MBS is expecting her 2nd baby :) She found out she was 7 weeks preggy today-- in her words "I will be needing a new diaper bag again." Ohh and we could not have been happier for her. Congratulations MBS!!! Psst, and ease up on the steak-- if you are gonna have some, bring me along!!! *muwahaha freeloader alert!!*

b. To our other fashionable preggy bag hag mama DaphP, a quick holler and a hug out for her-- she is already 28 weeks on the way :D!!

By the way, ladies, if you want SUPER NICE (aka gorgeous) ONE-OF-A-KIND gold necklaces with antique charms, get in touch with DaphP. (photo credit: Metro Magazine April 2006 issue-- go get a copy at Filbar's if you missed this at the stands last month) They are investment pieces and worth passing onto the next gen. I'd forego a bag for one necklace-- it's worth every cent! Here was a photo with the ladies who dined last week :D FL carried her LV green epi noe (that color is beautiful!!!), MC had her Fendi monogram mini spy with cognac leather, and DaphP had her signature Goyard croisiere 35. And here was my bag sitting next to FL's green noe. :DP.P.P.S. Bag hag MG witnessed her bag reunion today *hehe this is too cute*-- Her mama papillon got reunited with her baby papillon :) *wink* It's soo cute. Girl, please send me the photo!! And have a safe trip to Cebu!!

P.P.P.P.S. And I promise this is my last P.S. for this post-- I decided to brush my Goyard bag with soap and water last night because I wore a cheap pair of jeans that bled onto the bag. I sorta freaked out when I saw that my yellow St. Louis PM (as if this was the biggest problem I had-- geez could I get any shallower?!) had some denim bloodstains, but thank goodness for plain ol' soap and water! The whole denim stain washed off. So, yet again, I have proven to myself that Goyard is a good brand. Although it may never reach Vuitton's popularity, the bags are good (well when I say the "bags" are good, I mean the ffg bags only: croisiere, fidji, st.louis pm. I wouldn't buy the other styles for femmes hehe. ) And thank goodness, my bag is once again, good as new :D

Nitey hags!!

TRAVELBLOG: My "spoils" from HK

2006-05-13T19:03:00.000+08:00

On the last day of my HK trip (err I think I really only had a "day" in HK), I decided to check out of the hotel early (ah yes, I was actually awake by 10am, and checked out by 11am!). I left my *EMPTY* luggage at the hotel and will come back in the afternoon for it.

I decided against being too cheap and took the CityBus to Queens Road Central (besides, I did not want to sweat anymore since I can no longer take a shower after).

First stop: Landmark's Harvey Nichols. Time to collect my "spoils" (muwahahaha what a choice of a word!).

GOYARD: I couldn't decide. A powder blue or a marine blue Fidji hobo (OR THAT GOYARD CHAIR!!!! hehehe). Anyway, I ended up with the marine blue Fidji :) *And an advanced happy birthday to me hehe*. On a related note about Fidjis, I sat down with Baghag hotmama MBS yesterday and while I brought my Yellow St. Louis (yes with the tiara hahaha *feeling royal again*), she brought her orange Fidji which she got on a recent trip from Paris (Dang, the lady went to the original House of Goyard!!!). Also, I bought an orange St. Louis PM for a new Goyard lover (you know who you are, girl!).

Post Goyard, I went into the Damier printed building corner that is Louis Vuitton. I originally went to this place (note I did not want to go in here-- too much temptation! Sheesh) to check out the Multicolore Priscilla bag for a hag, but guess what. Today, that bag was already GONE. Bought by someone else! *shock* Goes to show that anything new with logos at LV, do sell in Hong Kong. No matter what the price. This is Hong Kong. Smell the air! It's the smell of Money!!! Louis Vuitton was not gonna let me out of its store empty handed. I spotted something out of the corner of my eye. In a glass case. I moved over. Hmm... what is this... It's CUTE!!! It's a monogram canvas mini pochette! Now, why have I never seen this bag before? (As if I don't have pochettes in my closet that I DON'T use!). Tsk. "May I see this please?" "Surely!" replied the kind SA. "It's so cute!" I lamented. SA gives me that million watt smile "Isn't it?" I cursed under my breath. I swear, this is NOT happening to me, I am NOT gonna be sucked into this Vuitton vortex. Not here, not now.

Before I knew it, I was whipping out my credit card. And I spaced out. I vaguely heard myself saying "I'll take it" while the rest of my mind was screaming "HELLO?! Will you use this???". The devil bag hag kicked my conscience off the cliff. I heard nothing but calm all too suddenly. Crap! My conscience!! Holy crap!! There are people starving outside and here I am hoarding yet another pochette that probably won't see the light of day (except that cheap fluorescent light in my room)!!! *BAWL*

Tsk. Anyway, here she is: (Now someone better remind me to take this little one out. In fact, do remind me to take my other 3 unused LV bags out for some sun-- namely Perforated Speedy in green, Monogram Panda Pochette, and Fuchsia Charms Pochette)

Que mal, que mal! After walking out of LV, I passed by Roger Vivier once more (you HAVE to try their shoes. Bid a short byebye to Blahnik and Louboutin, and pay your sole respects to the "Fragonard of shoes") before moving onto the next building where Hermes is located (the headquarters of material sin *muwahaha*). I bought a twilly for a friend *wink viajera alert*, a nice H horn bangle for moi, then moved on downstairs to look at the women's pret-a-porter and shoes. Ohmygawd, they have AMAZING slides and sandals right now, it would be such a sin to wave them off. I picked a style and waited for it in my size. Funny. My sales associate (who was just VERY baffled with my Crocs slippers *muwahahaha she couldn't tell it to my face that they were just plain UGLY*) told me they no longer had that style I wanted in my size (I'm a 39-- I know, I know, HUGE feet). So just out of desperation (and we all know how desperate we can all become one way or another), I tried on the ankle-tie magic slippers-- in size 37. (Talk about desperate!!) Guess what, THEY FIT ME!!!!!!!! (Boy my feet will complain to me in the not-so-distant future for this torture). Then I mentioned to my SA that I saw a purple Paris-Cannes beach bag at Pacific Place but the boutique was already closed last night, so I couldn't see it up close anymore. She asked if I could wait about 10 minutes. I figured what the heck, my calves (take note, NOT my feet) were sore from the walk yesterday that I can wait 10 minutes-- sitting down in this oh-so-PLUSH chair :D *hehe it's true anyway! it IS plush!* So, less than 10 minutes later, I get presented with the purple Paris- Cannes. So I asked, why did it take so long for them to find the bag? My SA said, "We brought the bag for you from Pacific Place." Ok. Hermes, you get TOP MARKS for effort! :D *Note that the SA didn't really know at that time if I was getting the bag or not!* I also later got offered a Kelly bag in 32cm indigo togo leather with blue jean trim (year I) and ruthenium hardware. *Hehehe, no I didn't buy that one...*

I walked out of Hermes with huge bags in hand. And here is my loot from the Mount Everest of designer brands :DI can honestly tell you now, that my shopping budget has been completely wiped out (and then some). I can already go straight to the airport because I don't have a dime anymore except the HK$100 in my wallet (which will go to my train fare to the airport-- and I can't squander this off or else I'll end up sleeping in the streets if I didn't catch my flight).

So with these lootbags in hand, I hailed a cab to go back to my hotel (come on, you can't possibly expect me to walk all the way back up the Central escalator with all that! I will just faint. It was so hot, and now I don't even have enough change to buy myself a bottle of water!). At the hotel, I got my empty luggage and began stuffing it. It didn't take long for my luggage to swell up. I just remembered. Crap!!! I have no cab fare to go to Central Station!!!! *OHMYGAWD*

So, I was talking to the front desk about taking a BUS there (I know, with a huge ratty *and partly torn up* Samsonite-- talk about travel battlescars), when he told me that the hotel actually has a free shuttle service that can take me to the Central Station! HELLO! I was saved by the baghag gods from a possible tragedy (I had some more HK coins and Phil. pesos in my wallet but not enough for HK$40-- which means I might have to BEG! *muwahahahaa! Humble Pie Humble Pie! But I was in the hotel which housed the holiest of holy tourists! Seriously!! Remember my hotel Bishop Lei International is run by the Catholic diocese of HK?!*).

I get to Central Station, got to check in my single luggage, and yay, that leaves me some more time to walk around the IFC Mall (HK's "Newest" mall). But honestly, no more moolah to spend. My credit card is exhausted and abused. Overswiping owners should be punished, thus preventing them from doing such crime again *Guilty as charged!*.

So IFC shops are really, just all eye candy now (which means, I can't really linger around or I'll be tempted again *haha ZERO EQ*).

There's the Prada boutique with all those "plume" style bags, Patrick Cox (whatever happened to this brand?!), Roberto Cavalli (check out that bucket bag, reminds me of the bag that BB was photographed in back at the AbFit Jeans store in Jupiter Street hehe). And then of course, there's Lanvin. They have really yummy ballet flats there (but I could only drool *sniff*... Wait. This is pathetic. I can't believe I am trying to ask for your sympathy here. I'm truly a lowlife *snicker*). I do know for a fact that our baghag KV bought herself a purple pair (THE LAST pair too, which almost got snatched up by a HK celeb. Woohoo SCORE for KV!)

Time to head to the airport. Besides, there are more SHOPS there. :D Airport Boutiques here I come!!

CHANEL: Oooh the elusive bowling bag!! They have it in black only. Gorgeous, isn't it? Oh and they also have the Jumbo Chanel 2.55 Double C twistlock version in Caviar leather (black) with silver hardware! No, I didn't get it. I was already far too broke (I need to go to a loan shark for money, know a good one? *Muwahaha*).

DIOR: Holy heavenful of bags! There are tons of the Gaucho bags at Dior airport!! Ok, thank goodness I didn't get this bag. To begin with actually, I never really cared for this. And boy did that decision pay off :D

HERMES: Hmm there was a 28cm cyclamen mini plume here. Tsk, what is it with these MINI versions of the original bags anyway??!! *I am pissed because the designers are giving suckers like me an excuse to own one, now that it's not AS astronomically priced as the original one (but geeeez it's STILL expensive!!!!)*

Tsk, all this eye candy made me truly hungry, so I pit-stopped at this sushi bar called Toro. I could no longer wait for airline food (not this time-- I had NO lunch the whole day and my stomach was beginning to complain, and loudly too). Total damage done on my card: HK$305 (for a sushi- sashimi platter and green tea).

Before long, it was time to board my plane. Adios to HK. And to think I was only there for one day, and I shudder to think of the credit card bills when I get back home!!

So now, I am back, and I am totally clamming up everytime I receive a white envelope. *shiver shiver* Loan shark loan shark loan shark... hehehe... Ok I think next week is "Storm" cleaning time (Spring is over haha)

P.S. BagHag MG and her little girlie baghag RG are so cute-- they both have the LV Papillon And the Pandora Speedy :D MG girl, please adopt me! My DH begs you to take me in *muwahaha* ; My svelte baggin' amiga Sarah brought me some sweets (arrrrgh my DIET!!!) yesterday for Mother's Day and now I can't stop eating these things!!!! THANKS super, girl! And my extra pounds will all be dedicated to you *hehe*; I also met a super lovely couple SF and her hotshot engineer hubby BF (who makes it a point to know the brands that his wife likes! I salut you. You make other men proud, as my DH said :D). SF by the way, was carrying the bag I was lusting for (the Gucci shopping tote with two exterior pockets)!!

P.P.S. JP, our defacto male baghag expert, is hiding a treasure trove of a blog! He has THREE Balenciaga Men's Day bags!! (*Busted!!!* Tsk JP, you sinner you :D *hehehe woowoo!!*)

P.P.P.S. Sigh, the wonders (or not) of the internet. It never ceases to amaze me how peeps can extract photos from others and use it without permission (well I sometimes neglect to do this too, but I do try to credit my sources). It's even more somewhat upsetting to find out that one's own info can be used by another. Sigh... Anyway, my friend JLS (who pulled the plug on her own blog) says this happens to everyone on the net everyday, that someone will try to assume identity of another person whom they "think" is not "connected" or net savvy. Well I just didn't realize this is such a rampant practice. Where's the internet police when you need one? So peeps, be very careful about the information you part these days. It can be used by someone else and they can seriously assume your identity without you knowing. Tsk :( Sad, sad.

On a happier note, I would like to wish all Mommies out there a HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY in advance!!! Treat yourselves today if your kids/ hubbies don't treat you :) Bottom line, make it a HAPPY WEEKEND!!

TRAVELBLOG: HK- Pacific Place + Causeway Bay

2006-05-12T02:58:00.000+08:00

So I arrived at Pacific Place shortly before 8pm. I know, I was wayyy off schedule here, thanks to those unavoidable stops (haha right, like I am going back to Landmark the very next day anyway, but I just HAD to peep first. Tsk. Talk about ZERO EQ).

I had to make a quick stopover at Vivienne Tam-- a friend had asked me to buy her some tops, and so I did *woohoo Viajera galore!* :) The clothes are all nice, but tsk, they don't really fit a *cough* woman like me-- I ain't skinny and I'd look like a wrapped ricecake (?!) "suman" if I did attempt to wear such clothes. Spare me from the added embarrassment. I am already a walking embarrassment. As my dear friend once said to me when I mentioned my thoughts on plastic surgery, she said "Mrs. T, No matter what you get done on your face, you will still be ugly" *BAWL!! Haha but oh, how true hahaha!!!* So, her comment literally saved me thousands of pesos (of more debt!). And endless future heartbreaks ("I am knee deep in debt from all that surgery, but why am I still not *cough* pretty even though I already have a new nose?") *guffaw guffaw!!!!*

Anyway, post Vivienne Tam, it was already 8pm. Guess what. Tough luck. The designer boutiques are now CLOSED. Now it's time for those real tears!! I only have what, a day and a half in HK and in fact I only have a day left (since I basically arrived HK late already) and the damn mall is closing up on me. But oh heck, what did I expect, they'd wait for me? Hah! I wish! *Here we go again, feeling VIP *puke ptoooey!!*

Fine. Whatever. Thanks to this, I saved some moolah. No shopping in HK on Day 1 of HK trip. Lovely.

But here are some of the bags I was able to take photos of (if these stores were still open, sales associates would be wagging their thin fingers at me-- "no photo no photo" hehe).

LOEWE-- this is apparently a limited edition bag. It's kinda cute with all those little pins, but I got to try this bag on, and it's rather heavy. Price was right about US$1,200.

LOUIS VUITTON-- So I guess this "travel" bag is the men's version of the charms line. Tsk, sorta reminds me of Gucci, don't you think? (JP+ BB: this would be up your alley. Your thoughts are appreciated here :D)

DIOR-- Oooooh those Detective bags are still around. They were produced sometime when the pockets craze came to. Dior has also produced the Detective bag with that extra compartment at the bottom. Note too, that bag may not look like it on the photo (thanks to my expert photographing skills *puke*), but it's a CROC!! *I shudder to know how much that bag costs. The Croc Detective sans that compartment already costs US$18,000! *sticker shock*

CHANEL-- Hmm that straw bag is just not doing it for me. Sometimes I wonder why such bags even get produced. Well, I guess that's the reason why there is a bargain bin for these styles. (Chanel bargain bin= less expensive, but STILL expensive!) Chanel is also into this perforated thing, with their patent leather perforations bags. So not happening for me. I'd do the bowling bag or the caviar 2.55 only for this season's Chanel. By the way, the bowling bags are sold out at Chanel Pacific Place-- there were none in any of their shelves.

ESCADA-- These bags are rather nice, but wait, they remind me of Celine Boogie bags in some sorta way...

CHLOE-- Ahhh more Paddingtons in all sortsa sizes and colors :D All neutrals though. And though apparently editors think this is one of the worst bags for you (i.e. you can sprain your shoulder, etc. by carrying it-- hey it happened to my wrist, remember?), it is still a nice bag. I am partial to this bag because the leather is really soooo soft. And check out that mini version, it's so cute!

HERMES-- WooHoo in my opinion-- this is the Mount Everest of brands :D But what's with this Bolide? (I didn't really take a closeup look but it looked like a vibrato Bolide to me) I love the color of the top part of the bag, but don't find the body appealing. It doesn't seem to work well, this combination. Now a Croc Bolide would be nice... *hehe lust lust* And that purple barrel- type bag at the back of the store is the new canvas beach bag called Paris- Cannes. (I *heart* it)

*Sigh* Too bad about Pacific Place, but the night was young, so it was time to head to Times Square in Causeway Bay-- this place does NOT sleep, and I like that!!

Check out all these lights! Alive and kicking. This place is really happening. Tsk, tragic to be at Pacific Place at 8pm, but WOOHOO thank goodness for Causeway Bay! I first passed by City Super (inside the mall) to check out trinkets and found CROCS slippers. I know people find this brand sooo ugly (heck I don't know anyone who said the slippers look good haha), but I just HAD to get one (HK$268) because my feet were killing me!! So I bought one. In bright pink :D Boy were they ugly, but heck were they comfy!! The best darn shoes I've ever owned to date. Talk about an instant podiatric fix!

Ok now, I need some energy drink of some sort. Or food. I feel faint already (no dinner yet). There's this place just two shops beside Milan Station (with all those Hermes bags) called Yee Shun Milk Company where they serve the popular Double- film milk custard. It costs HK$18.50 per cup. I also quenched my thirst with a glass of Coconut Milk drink (HK$20). Had to take home another order of this Double film milk custard. It's so darn good and I know I'll be missing it again. Tsk. Someone should think about bringing this to Manila. Anyone?

After that mini meal, I am rejuvenated. I walked around the area of Times Square, where there were all these 2nd hand designer merchandise shops like Milan Station, Paris Station, and France Station. So MANY bags of LV, Gucci, Hermes, Fendi, Chloe (Edith bag is everywhere). Goyard was also there! See, the brand is really catching up fast with these other "hot" brands. Colors I found for the St.Louis PM there were yellow, red, black with tan, black on black, and maroon. There were no blues, greens, oranges, or whites. Hmm those are hot colors to be sold out (apparently, Mr. Milan Station sales associate says those colors sell faster...) And there were no Fidji hobos :(( I guess I am destined to go to Harvey Nichols after all for that Goyard fix!)

I walked on further and reached the Sogo intersection, where on one side of the street, is this popular Streetfood lover's hub :D Hehe now I looove getting these innards sticks at this place. (They have since increased prices-- last I remember they were only HK$5 each. Now they are HK$7 each for the booktripe stick and HK$6 for the small intestines stick). This is gonna be my dinner!! I ordered THREE sticks of EACH kind (small intestine and book tripe-- hehe this is not for the weak-stomached peeps hehe)

I took the MTR back and headed back to Central, where I passed by Shanghai Tang on Pedder Street (check out this "old coins" hobo) before taking the escalator (praying that they won't stop service since it's almost 12 midnight!).

Then of course as I promised myself, I stopped by Pepperoni's to order their famous Deep Fried Camembert (HK$ 75) and Spaghetti Vongole (HK$ 95) for take out. YES they were still open for takeout!! I love Hong Kong! Anyway, I feasted on them for my late night.. rather, early morning "dinner". :D *talk about messed up schedules!*

That's it for now folks! Hope you enjoyed this post. Next post will be about my last day and panic shopping :D *don't expect too much, you are reading about a broke bag hag's post, remember? :D*

"Live and Love it, Hooong Kooong..." :D

P.S. Happy birthday to bag hag Sam J. :)

P.P.S. Quick holler to my new friend, shampoo addict (and psst I'm sorta converting her into a bag hag) JenT :D, and also a HUGE HUG to KO-- thanks for EVERYTHING. My hubahuba fashion guru :) *woowoo!*

P.P.S. Schu Sale Alert!! Netizens of Manila: Schu is having a Buy 1-take 1 sale from May 12- 27 (woohoo it starts today!!). If your office happens to be close to Megamall A or Glorietta 3, don't forget to pop by the boutique tomorrow!! Shoe fiends, this is the time to hoard :D *guffaw can anyone lend me money to buy shoes? heheee*

Night hags, and stay happy!! xoxo

TRAVELBLOG: Hong Kong, City of Life! Landmark

2006-05-10T12:38:00.000+08:00

I got back late last night-- I was in fact too tired to blog. I can't imagine walking around HK the WHOLE day the way I did when I was there for 1.5 days (and 1 night)!

I stayed at Bishop Lei International (green building), it's a nice and quite affordable hotel located at Robinson Road MidLevels (their off season rate is about $80 more or less-- that's real cheap by HK standards for this location too!). The rooms are rather small, but it's alright, as long as they are clean and that the hotel is really a decent place to stay (no fly-by-night ladies allowed hehe). The place is run by the Catholic diocese of HK, so it's really a good place to stay. If you wanna experience what it's like to live like a local, try staying at this place-- the hotel is located in the residential area (aka no shopping malls anywhere).

I left my hotel around 7:00pm already, and decided to walk down the Central escalator to pass by all those boutique restaurants at SoHo. I passed by Mosque street before getting there, and oooh Pizzeria Italia, our old haunt a few years ago, is STILL here!! Try their Spinach and Mushroom Pizza as well as their Four Cheeses Pizza. To die for!!! Take out service only for this by the way :)

The Central Escalator from Mosque Street seems like a few miles' walk down to Queens Road Central. What made today's walk hard is that the escalator service is only available for those walking back up to Midlevels. Ouch... and I was walking down!

I passed by old haunts, which just basically made me smile because these were the very places we used to eat at, and they are still around! What a stroll down memory lane! There's my fave place Pepperoni's, where their Spaghetti vongole and Deep fried camembert with cranberry dip are just sooooooo good and not to be missed! (I will come back to this place later).

Then there's Staunton's where we would get an after-work drink (or two), post dinner at one of the restaurants at SoHo (shortcut for South of Hollywood Road). I was searching for a restaurant named Indigo here, but it doesn't look like that place exists anymore :( Sad. They had the best oysters (and damn, arguably the priciest) in this side of town.

I finally reach Queens Road Central (former home to Lane Crawford which has since moved to IFC). The street doesn't feel the same without Lane Crawford. But hey, this still remains the street home of Balenciaga, Escada, Episode, Marks & Spencer, Joyce, Harvey Nichols, Chow Tai Fook Jewellery, Follie Follie. And perpendicular to Queens Road Central, is Pedder Street-- the prestigious address of Louis Vuitton's flagship store, as well as The Landmark and Shanghai Tang. Finally, I am going to take the MTR (all that walking made me lose 5 pounds *or so I hope because of my profuse sweating!!*). I plan on heading to Admiralty first (Pacific Place). The Central MTR station is located on either streets-- I chose the one at the Landmark's basement (muwahaha feast my eyes!).

Louis Vuitton's Flagship store-- the power alone on those almost- blinding facade lights could seriously incapacitate a small town's electricity supply :D

Then there's Celine (check out that cute yellow Clandestine bag).

Ralph Lauren (which had the Ricky bag in stock-- both in leather and in luxe CROC!!).

Fendi (holy holy holy, they have TONS of B.Fendi bags there-- red patent leather with canvas, white patent with canvas, black patent with camel leather... and all those Spy bags with the floral appliques, and then some gaudy beaded ones hehe *Do you spy what I spy?*)

Then of course, what's Landmark without paying homage to Roger Vivier? If you have some serious cash to burn on a pair of shoes, forget Manolos and Jimmy Choos. Vivier is the name to remember. Get a pair with the comma heels or the sky high stiletto heels, what Vivier is famous for :) Or get those big buckle flats (so "MOD!")

Then there's Gucci. Whatever this itty bitty bag is, it's beautiful *sigh and pricey too, I'm sure* It looks like one of Jay Strongwater's enamel and crystal encrusted box.

I could NOT resist. I swear I couldn't. I just HAD to go into Harvey Nichols to peep inside Goyard. Tsk. I am still planning to come back to Landmark the very next day, but i just had to beachcomb the whole mall *snicker.. NO EQ!*

Anyway, I will have to cut this post short for now, I have to finish an article which is due tomorrow (eeks!!!). I will be posting part 2 later during the day (or night).

Watch this space for more! Part 2: Pacific Place & Causeway Bay. Part 3: The hogging begins (or so I think)...

Ahhhh the famous baghag biatchin' alert: To that special someone *gag* who cannot find anything positive to say at all about anything (I mean anything!!!), let me be the biatch now (hey I have to clean up what the scum started! *me looks for Clorox hehe*) and correct you for your use of the word PLUSH to describe subdivision/village. That is just sooooo wrong (and hags, I don't normally enjoy being right, but today, I AM right!!! hahaha). Plush means "A fabric of silk, rayon, cotton, or other material, having a thick deep pile."(yes, you can check it in your dictionary). I believe the term you are looking for is POSH. *Guffaw-- those two words are MILES apart in meaning!* Public humiliation is what you get for being such a sourpuss (fester fester fester, rot rot rot *muwahahaha* Please don't let this happen to the good people!).

Sigh, Hags, isn't it rather annoying when sourpuss hypocrites hide under a veneer of fictitious names (hence hypocrites) if they can't say something negative to you in your face (what's worse is, they don't even know that by sending an email via a web-based email address, their IP address is traceable and exposed! Cover your tracks damnit!) I'd rather duke it out face a face, leave no ill feelings undiscussed or unresolved. But that's just me. Baghag JP couldn't have said it better when he posted "Don't you ever give a FrUCK" (to which I had edited hahaha, hello babe, potty mouth hahaha). I agree. Why stoop to bottomfeeder level (but damn, I just stooped to that level by discussing this. *blah*)! Anyway, apart from that gross misuse of an English word (which I just HAD to correct because I'm such a control freak biatch), I have nothing else to say to this pondscum. Time to brush the lint off my cheap Php 80 shirt (thanks to Market!Market!) :D *The biatchin' bag hag is Baaaack!!*

Disclaimer: This blog is not for the faint hearted. I cannot be held responsible for any possible bag lustings or purchases :D *snicker* I had to put this disclaimer on, before I get pelted with tomatoes :D Or if this blog will only irk the reader, please, please stop reading this. I mean, why irk yourself more? It's like stinky feet-- why do you keep complaining about your stinky feet if you still keep smelling it anyway, knowing it already stinks? STOP smelling it damnit!! *Eeew*

Sigh, don't you just love "prose"? *WEEVIL!!!*

xoxo

Off to Retail Heaven

2006-05-08T02:46:00.000+08:00

Ok peeps, I am off to retail heaven, Hong Kong today. (HK Photo from Pbase )

Before you get any ideas on how much damage I can possibly do, I'll already tell you that I'm only gonna be here for one night (thanks to expiring free miles) :D See, some things in life are still sorta free *hehe*

I'll be back on Tuesday :) *I know, short trip. Better this way. I won't cover a lot of places, and this will allow me to cut back on expenses, which I frankly do not need at the moment, thank you very much!!*

Wishlist (which will probably remain in the wishlist) includes:

1. LV patent lomboks either in lilac (shown) or in bright pink (fuchsia)!! I know they're bright and all, but I swear, these loafers are on the heavy side but are extremely comfy!

2. CHANEL silver bowling bag (photo credit: ebay listing of personalshoppers). I really like this bag the moment I saw the ad campaign. I've been meaning to get a silver bag, but sigh, can't this bag be any cheaper?! *bawl*

3. HERMES Plume bag in cyclamen (photo credit: ebay listing of cherrypink21) Sigh, Hermes bags are just so expensive :(

Hmm... Know what? Surprisingly I am not really out to get any new bag (Ahhh the mind HAS to be strong... Cause my spirit is weak! haha). I have to crunch my finances when I'm on the plane, so you hags will know when I come back :D

P.S. I will be unreachable via mobile, (haha I'll be concentrating too hard hahaha-- I don't have THAT much time!) Better get some shuteye. Long day!

P.P.S. Even if I don't get a bag, I do know I will be EATING :) *teehee, there goes my quest for the 6 pack abs-- it'll be more like 6 rolls of abs* :D

Market!Market!

2006-05-07T17:36:00.000+08:00

So we went yesterday to Market!Market! again with my two friends CS and KG. We went there to scour for real cheap finds :) At the rate of this hag's financial crisis, a good find is in order. :D *Hello feel-good factor please*

Guilty, sinful, feel-good factor for the day: Chicharon Bituka (err if you don't know this, trust me, you DON'T wanna know :D It's got something to do with innards hehe). Call me gross, but I loooove this. I can eat maybe 150 grams of this. But I had self-control (and a limited budget-- heck 50g of this cost Php 40). So I only bought 50g worth. Downed the whole bag with a bottle of Carabao Milk. Ok I know. Really gross. And trust me, I DID FEEL SICK after :) *hehe and all that incessant complaints to my friends about tummy trouble a few hours later didn't help hahahaha* Nothing to complete my Day! I felt ten pounds lighter after that binge *wink*, and we all know what happened after! *Muwahaha* Ok that was gross-- information glut!

Anyyyway, here's Good find #1: My two friends seen here with their good finds of the day, Php 180 bug-eye sunglasses :) I chose not to get one (tsk in their words "I'm too damn cheap")-- instead, I will just ask my mom for her vintage ones :D Her glasses are even bigger than these that KG and CS got!
*teehee!!! Now that's a genuine good find hehe*

Good find #2: These bags which are onsale now at Chi Chi Rico (sister store of Firma). Some bags are even 70% off! I personally like that orange bag. It's so MOD and perfect for summer! Alas, no purchase for me-- I am only but a spectator in this cheap find hunt today. I have spent my money on Carabao milk and chicharon-- how "chichi of me" :D

Good find #3: Though these zipper bags are not really "cheap" (they were over Php 500), they are really cute. I was so tempted to get one! But ahh resist the temptation and the urge to whip out cash. But hey, you hags-- go check it out. We found these bags at the Ground floor of the Gift Market section (this is on the opposite Gift Market section from Chi Chi Rico).

Ok let me cut this post short. I have to do some "work" before I head outta town tomorrow. I promise to take photos of my trip, don't worry :D

By the way, I won't be reachable via my mobile from Monday- Tuesday night, so please don't get upset (or call me a snoot hehe) if I don't reply. You are warned *muwahaha just kiddin'*

Enjoy the rest of your Sunday!!

xoxo

A "Bollywood" Kiddie Party + Tresor's From Negligence to Debuts

2006-05-06T05:00:00.000+08:00

This afternoon, I was lucky enough to have been invited to the 1st birthday of Athena-- Tessa and DennisV's princess (and you all know, I never get invited to anything. But hey, this socialclimbing bag hag found her way! *tsk how shameless!!*). The party invitation (it's actually a booklet) itself was Indian-inspired, and true enough, the party was definitely a nod to Bollywood (woohoo Fiesta-- but wait... that's Mexican.. Oh heck, bottom line, the decor was soo colorful, thanks to Jelly Bellies). There were even belly dancers who entertained the *ahem* adult guests with the jiggling bellies :D (I think I can do well with belly dancing-- I am proud to be the owner of a HUGE one *hehe)Everyone was dressed in Indian garb! And as expected, the corny ol' me didn't wear anything Indian inspired (yes, I know. I am SO corny, and a non-conformist haha). The only thing Indian about me was my bindhi. :D Everything else about what I wore was a trailer trash fashion mistake (you should be expecting that about how I dress by now, after all, I don't have *cough* breeding-- I'm no old rich *nor am I even new rich*!!). Blah.

Anyway, here's the Indian hotmama Tessa (striking a Vogue-India *hehe* pose :D) with hubby Dennis and birthday princess Athena.
And pretty preggy KitZ, due to give birth to 4th baby *and 1st son!* soon :)

L'oreal's LeicaC appropriately dressed for the occasionTsk, wait wait, where are the bags, ladies? *Confused look*

This was such an amazing party-- there was never a dull moment, and there were all these flashes of bag luxury left, right, front, back, and center! Bags seen: LV denim baggy PM, LV monogram Speedy 30, LV monogram pochette, LV murakami white speedy (boy this party unofficially doubled up as an LV convention *wheeee!*). Then there was a Prada large backpack (as a diaper bag *woooo*), Furla ribbon bag, and a Burberry nova check bag. There's more, but Confession: I actually got real caught up in all the action that I momentarily forgot about my "I Spy a _ Bag" mind game! By action, I meant: Picture Card booth with personalized "Athena"background :D, Personalized Bead/Jewellery- making souvenirs, Bouncing Castle, Tattoo/ Facepainting "Parlor", KettleKorn (where I parked my fat bootie for a good 5 minutes hehe), and Flavored Shaved Ice (2 servings of Grape please!).

The beautiful cake was made by cake artist Penk Ching of Pastry Bin (who, incidentally is about to launch her Cakes coffeetable book by month end!). And check out the layered cupcakes! (Wow talk about having two "cakes" for one occasion!)

Towards the end of the party, all the little girls (including TessaV and the bellydancing instructor) took the stage and did their bellydancing jiggles (Now check them all out, wearing "The" attire. Now I feel reallly out of place *muwahaha*)

Too bad the party had to end (after 3.5 hours)-- we were still all having fun (eat, eat, eat)! So we got home and I realized I better shape my life up. Fast. Do some exercise, and stop neglecting www.tresormakati.com since there are new bags that came my way. *I promise to post them there very soon-- I am actually heading out of town early next week, so I promise to post them once I get back*

Here are some "Victims" of my negligent non-posting (ahh they debut HERE :D) :

1. BOTTEGA VENETA caramel leather (with intrecciato detail) Fortune Cookie bag. Though the bag has some splotches in the leather (they look like oil or maybe perfume *?* spots), the bag is still very Bottega-- buttery soft. The shape is so cute too, and is true to its name :) At the price of Php 20,000-- it's quite cheap (for a Bottega!) already. Plus it's pretty roomy with 3 compartments. (P.S. No I'm not pregnant. I'm just honestly fat with a beer belly)

2. GUCCI Beige Monogram Hobo with signature green-red striped strap. Bag is in excellent condition! This is already a classic piece and would be perfect for your collection. Priced at Php 23,500.

3. LV Popincourt Haut. (Photo shows the back of the bag, hence the inverted monograms)This tote bag is still pretty new and perfect, size- wise! Dustbag is included. Priced at Php 43,000.

4. LV Yellow Epi Soufflot.This barrel shaped bag is already used, and shows some dirt marks on the strap areas of the bag. The matching yellow epi trousse ronde cosmetic pouch is included in this. Price is pegged at Php 28,000.

5. LV Monogram Viva Cite MM. This is such a nice bag to use. It's not too bulky, and yet it's functional enough for daily use. The bag being offered is in excellent condition, with the cowhide strap in a relatively light color. Comes with the dustbag and priced at Php 40,000.

OFF TOPIC SELF-REFLECTION ALERT: I've often wondered. Do some people (esp ones that I don't know, who grace my blog with their attention *thank you by the way*) really think that I am full of myself? Because what follows that question is a series of questions (with answers of course!): do I even have ANYTHING to show for (aside from my mounting debt)? Nada. Can I truly brag about something? Not really (well except for my growing backfat and beer belly-- and I don't even drink beer! *Tsk maybe I'll lose that fat, now that I have squandered off my meal ticket for the next 4 months*). Do I even have the RIGHT to brag about anything? Ya kiddin? Of course NOT! Since when did I become a member of the privileged class when I can't even afford to pay for an economy class fare?! *TSK* Holier-than-thou peeps need not worry. I ain't stealin' yer throne or pullin' you off your high horses :D. Anyyyway, I have absolutely nothing to show for (as I've mentioned, except for my bodyfats-- thanks to those instant cup o noodles!), and I am definitely not holy (But if your definition of holy is a mounting credit card debt, then let's talk about that throne or that horse hehe) *GULP* Uh-oh did I just bare my financial soul? *teehee!!*

Alright, enough of that biatchin', trash- talkin', label whorin', and self reflectin' bag hag in me. I should just be a safety pin (thanks for that term BB). Humility is the key :D *for me anyway*. For you bag hags, SEND SEND SEND your photos of your new bags. I will brag about YOUR stuff for ya :D

P.S. Ooooh so I heard that La Baronessa de Mucho Manolas BB went to LV this afternoon to check out the LV Passy up close and personal :D. BB, muchas gracias for taking this photo (photo shows the bag with PLASTIC on the handles as well as CARDBOARD *on the side*). This is proof that LV does have bags which have plastic and protective cardboard pieces on them! :) And by the way, that Passy does look good. It looks so... classic! Tsk Temptations temptations!!

P.P.S. Boo to the Redondo beach reader from Total Xtreme Sports Inc. *you know who you are*

xoxo

Have an excellent weekend Hags!!

ALLTHINGSEXPENSIVE.BLOGSPOT.COM

2006-05-05T13:23:00.000+08:00

Just a quickie update for that quick jewellery fix-- I have a short post on allthingsexpensive.blogspot.com :)

More on bags tonight. Have a good day everyone!!

xo

How do I plead? GUILTY (of course!!!)

2006-05-05T00:01:00.000+08:00

I had no choice. I had to go to Greenbelt 4 today to meet up with someone. And no choice, I passed by LV (actually I've been meaning to visit my fave SA Abby to catch up-- I haven't seen her in a month, and this gal is practically a good friend :D). She was there. I decided, why stop for "just chitchat" when I can also lookit the bags I had been thinking about--

1. LV Multicolore Priscilla
2. LV Multicolore Trouville
3. LV Monogram Trouville

JP: You will love me and yet pelt me with boulders for I have sinned. No, I did not buy any of the abovementioned bags. I simply cannot afford it. My pockets are unfortunately, not deep enough for any of the three.

Tsk, wait. Let me give you a rundown of events first. I went to Greenbelt3. Met up with JC the sexy baghag with two (!!!) kids, then went to Greenbelt 4-- to LV with the intention of looking at the new Priscilla (I asked to see the black one of this style). It looked cute and "fat", but I am not too sure about the front pocket-- that extra flap just looks wayyy off!! I also checked out the difference between the Mono Trouville and the Multicolore Trouville. And of course, did some catching up (the usual chitchats and pleasantries) with Abby. She also showed me the HUGE MC Aurelia (cabas type).No thanks. Too many bright logos. I love logos, but I think this far exceeded my logo- quota for how much logos a bag should actually have *teehee*.

Besides, I really have NO INTENTION OF BUYING ANYTHING. Because?
1. No money to buy a new bag (tsk where's the money when you "need" it? By the way, I used that word "need" loosely) . 2. SERIOUSLY, I'm saving up for the kids' education (gotta help DH if the need arises-- gotta play responsible wife and mom sometimes, give me credit, GEEZ *Snicker! Waaaa such a hypocrite! Ptoooey! shame shame!!*)

While I didn't buy any bag (though I have been sooo tempted), I did end up buying something. No, it was definitely not those key pouches (although they are rather cute with the mini useless locks haha). *Speaking of which, ohmahgawd, I think I still have an LV charms pochette in pink that remains unused... And a perforated Speedy-- again, unused! Oh GEEZ!!!*

TRUE CONFESSION OF A BAG HAG: But see it would've been easy to just end the story right here. But I have to be true to the readers of this blog (meaning: I have to tell the truth-- spill the beans so to speak. Sometimes. *guffaw*). I ended up getting a Black Multicolore Wapity *DUCKS!* (I can just foresee JP throwing rotten tomatoes at my fat flat face and wide bottoms *screeeech!!*)

OH NO OH NO OH NO, I freakin' used my meal allowance (4 months worth!!!) to pay for this purchase *Starvation diet, here I come!!!*It's Php 19,800. (I know, I myself am shocked that I allowed such a transaction to go through. I should've warned my card company that they should redflag any transactions that exceed 4K.) I really can't believe that LV merchandise is getting steeper in price by the segundo (This wapity is US$320 at eluxury and probably even cheaper in HK)!! But I supported the local economy-- those extra charges are the VAT haha! I did my part as a citizen today, darnit! *snicker* Be proud of me!!!!

Bag Hag's Purchase excuse #1: I remembered my DH who said, "give your camera a better home." (My camera pouch came from HK-- it's from one of those sidewalk vendors who sold it to me for HK$10 *snicker!*) My DH finds me so silly-- yeah sure spend a bundle on a bag and go cheap on "hardware" care *muwahahahaha*

Soooooo, Silly bag hag heeded his advice and bought the wapity, which I must say, is a rather cute bag (Now, having DH pay for this purchase is another thing of course-- I get denied more by asking him than by my countless credit card applications *muwahaha*). Tsk. I was told (by some baghags) I was getting rather disappointing as a bag hag *muwahaha no bag purchase for a month gets people disappointed????*, to which I told Abby: I started with expensive bags. And now, my purchases are not only shrinking numbers-wise, it is also shrinking size-wise! Lookit, just a little case for the camera and what-have-yous, and to think I went for a HUGE matronic turtle bag at one point, and now, small pouch!! Tsk, this is behavior is called: Poor, but pretending to be rich-- a wannabe VIP, aka a hypocrite!! Yup, that would have to be ME.

*BAWL* I am such a loser (I thought this THE WHOLE TIME as I signed my credit card slip). Mind still churning out ideas on how to pay for this purchase: *gulp I can't really go on a starvation diet* Sooo... Oh!! Great-- I have a few more yet- unused bags. Perhaps I should already sell them. :D

YAY! Blingbling idea!!! :) That way, I didn't really compromise my tube- tied finances :D

Bag Hag's Purchase excuse #2: I found out that today is also PP and DOP's 4th year wedding anniversary.
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY to PP and DOP!! :) See, I even got myself a gift on YOUR anniversary *eh?! confuzzled look haha* Tsk, I am so useless to this society. Could I be at the lowest ebb of my life to be THIS low to use my dear friend's wedding anniversary as an excuse (dang, ANYTHING for an excuse haha) for such an unnecessary purchase?! *THWAP MYSELF*

Oooh, by the way-- there is an HSBC card promo at Rockwell Mall that would allow cardholders a chance to win a Php 100,000 shopping spree if they can "crack the code". Tsk. I'll keep trying. If I win that amount, apparently I will only have ONE day to spend it all at Rockwell Mall. (I better start making a list hahaha-- not to worry. Tomorrow, that will be the title of my post!).

Sigh. ENOUGH! I have been real bad. But hey it's May already, and I had won a bet that I wouldn't buy a bag for the whole month of April (the Goyard bags don't count because they were paid for since December last year).

:D I'm gonna get some sleep early tonight (early, meaning before 2am). I woke up so early this morning, and did so on the "wrong side". Imagine if i had woken up on the RIGHT side, I'd probably be the beaming proud owner of an LV MC Priscilla (and also be the shameful owner of an Php 81,000 bill to which I will seriously have to "steal" to get the damn thing paid muwahahaha!! Think: career thief to pay for expensive bag habit= ME! Didn't Jim Carrey and Tea Leoni do well as "career thieves" for Fun with Dick and Jane? *snicker ideas*)

Alright, enough is enough. I should be more socially conscious. (I'm telling you, this is me being a hypocrite at my worst!) Someone put some sense into my thick skull. I should just spend my money on nice and more affordable bags like the ones at Top Shop (check out that white quilted hobo with the chain link strap. Or that cute green bag. Me likey both!!)and give the remaining money to charity. After all, our less fortunate friends could use our help. (But seriously, if you do have spare change, do help them. Start with your own househelp. They could use the money).

Sigh, why do I have to be such a self- righteous hypocrite? *thwack myself seriously in the noggin* No wonder I have no friends *bawl or muwahaha??*

ENOUGH justification on that Wapity. I have morphed into Mrs. T, the debt monster. And it's too late to return the pouch. I already like it too much. Plus, it has already been adopted by my bag *and mind you, my bag has a MIND of its own!!!* :D

Oh, P.S. The Multicolore fringe line is arriving soon. Here'a glimpse... *cough, cough Bugly!!*

I hate ending on a rather "sour" note, but oh well, let me put the "dark cloud- silver lining" cliche to use-- Such a shame that Marc Jacobs came out with this line because it's really bugly, but hey, at least I DO KNOW that I won't be shelling out a single cent for any of those bags *SCORE! Muwahaha!*

Night hags!!

xo

Uh oh... LV lusting coming back with a vengeance...

2006-05-04T13:10:00.000+08:00

So I attended this mini reunion of old friends last night at Alex 3 in Tomas Morato (near ABSCBN) where I also met up with my bubbly baghag friend GC :) *pst, girl, you look gooood!!* I was 30 minutes late that GC and her DH ended up eating at Alex 3 (they got hungry waiting for me!). GC, I owe you one!! xoxo!

Ok, now the reunion-- one of our old friends, AndyD, is back in town from London (a royalista's city of choice hehe) so we all got together again and rehashed our back-to-school
antics *hehe, my DH seemed rather amused by the whole "drama" (aka sex and money talk do mix haha-- but dang, why no bag talk?! haha)*.

LV sightings that night: My friend AK who just gave birth to an ubercute baby, was carrying her Pandora's bag LV speedy30, while my top banker friend LT proudly carried a new LV monogram Trouville. Ugh. Now this obsession has to stop. I got hooked onto her bag. I am loving it!! I loved the Deauville because of it's functionality (many pockets) although I found it too heavy (you know you are getting old when arthritis hits you hehehe). So this is such a perfect lil bag!! *Tsk, and I still have an LV monogram Manhattan that I haven't taken out for a spin in ages!*

I am about to head out to hang with Dear Mommy (DM), shh I better not use the Croisiere 35 *snicker* :D So hey, why not use the Manhattan! Maybe that'll take my mind off the Trouville.

Psst JP: Better a monogram trouville than a multicolore trouville.. hehe (I think for now anyway haha!)

P.S. Heads up!!! Indeedy it's LV time! Just got hold of an LV monogram Viva- cite MM in pretty good condition (looks practically new-- little show of use). Will post it on Tresor very soon. Have yet to take the actual photo (hehe there goes the lazybum bag hag again!). It's priced at Php 40,000.

Later hags! I hafta change bags :) *wink!!*

Did I really insult that lady? + Designer Soiree sale

2006-05-03T14:32:00.000+08:00

Dear Bag hags,

I'm so sleepy, but I have to write about this incident which happened today. So there was this lady who sent me a message regarding her interest with the X bag-- an in-demand brand of a bag which is already under Php 5,000. She asks me for discount for the bag because the bag needs refurbishing. I have noted in the site on that category that all prices are already final (but people sometimes fail to read that part-- either intentionally or unintentionally hehe). So, anyway I replied to her. "Hello, the X bag is final price as indicated-- it's practically a giveaway since refurbishing will only cost 3k. You end up with a newish X bag for under ten thousand. So cheap already to ask for discount haha. But sorry though, you late na eh, it got sold right away" Ok, so I hate Motorola Razr because they don't have that instant " Ü " happy face. So in lieu of that happy face, I use " haha". This woman took my text in a SERIOUSLY wrong way. Her reply went "You could have just answered queries without insulting possible clients". OUCH!! If she read my text this way, (or you, dear reader for that matter) would you have taken this text the wrong way?-- "Hello, the X bag is final price as indicated-- it's practically a giveaway since refurbishing will only cost 3k. You end up with a newish X bag for under ten thousand. So cheap already to ask for discount Ü But sorry though, you were late na eh, it got sold right away"

Ok, so here's the thing-- for as long as I can remember, I never, ever, ever insult anyone who has never wronged me or maligned me. I would never even dream of insulting people I don't know. So of course when I got her accusatory text, I replied IMMEDIATELY that my text was not meant to insult her, but to merely illustrate that what she is getting for the bag is already dirt cheap (as in, DIRT cheap for this brand *I do know many people will still find it hard to shell out this much cash for a bag, but this brand is possibly the most recognizable brand in the world. And well, the price I was selling it for, is already very cheap by market standards*-- in fact, even an Aussie baghag contacted me for this bag and I had told her the SAME thing, that it was so dirt cheap that it got sold right away. She didn't ask for a discount by the way). AND I apologized profusely for her thinking I had insulted her. Then of course, the trying hard hag in me had to call her FOUR TIMES to attempt to talk to her, on top of the SIX texts (super trying hard talaga) that I sent her to apologize and explain. Because honestly text message meanings sometimes can be easily misconstrued. But with explanation and a personal phone call, I was hoping it would get cleared.

But she didn't want to pick up the phone. Even after my profuse apologies. I don't understand human behavior. I had incidents in the past where I was wronged. And now I "wronged" someone. *Reality hit me hard. I feel terrible about it, because I was not brought up to say hurtful words to people who didn't do anything wrong*

Lesson learned. Albeit a pretty painful one-- I should answer my text messages more professionally instead of being all smiles and all that. No matter how hard you try, you can never please everyone. But if youknowwhoyouare is reading this, I hope you KNOW how genuinely sorry I am.

Hags, am I really a bad person by that text??? :(

Yours truly,

Surprised and upset bag hag

P.S. this just in-- Hot mama DP sent me this: Designers Soiree is pleased to invite you to its private sale May 6 (sat) 10am- 6pm where you will find summer frocks and one-of-a-kind collection by Marc Jacobs, Chloe, Marni, Miumiu, etc. at 3/F Hall B, One Roxas Triangle, Paseo de Roxas (beside Mandarin Hotel). So if you have deep pockets for these yummy designer frocks, go pay them a visit (meanwhile my wallet is on sabbatical! hehe)

An impromptu Goyard get-together + New places to shop!

2006-05-03T00:00:00.000+08:00

I was just uploading photos from dear friend Jo's wedding held at Century Park Sheraton a few nights ago. I could not help but shed a tear. The ceremony was so emotional-- the couple was so sincere and vocal about their feelings; the reception was really intimate-- just what weddings really ought to be (Tsk. I'm sorry I am not articulate enough to describe the wedding. Here: the wedding was unpretentious and so "warm", and everyone truly enjoyed being there). I loved Jo's wedding gown's details.All that beadwork and pleatwork. Sigh, beautiful. Just beautiful. And Jo was just glowing!! :)

Anyway, also at the Century Park Sheraton are ternos on display, made by FDAP members. This is one of the ternos I really like (oh how I wish I have a lithe body to fit into this!)-- This was made by Ronaldo Arnaldo (I remember this designer-- he made actress Beth Tamayo's wedding gown. How do I know this? I do recall getting a call from this designer, inviting me *actually, the Weddings Mag eds* to the wedding of the actress. Sadly, I didn't go. But I heard the dress was beautiful).

Today, I ended up on a last-minute afternoon hookup with La Baronessa B :). Had lunch at Sakae Sushi(conveyer belt sushi thingie) at the Fort, then headed to his appointment at Irene's Closet (one guess who that person is :D) in Palm Village, before moving on to Fibre where we met up with owner Vickie ADL.Fibre is a great boutique which stocks up on YDG designer couture (think Ivar Aseron, LZ Punzalan, Yvonne Quisumbing Romulo, Louis Claparols, Reian Mata, James Reyes, Joey Samson, Patty Eustacio, Mitzi Quilendrino) with accessories from Ciara Marasigan, and shoes by Brian Tenorio.Every single piece is "the original" thing. And they are pretty reasonable (considering these pieces are sooo detailed). If you are interested to see the collections available, do visit Fibre at the 2nd floor of Doña Consolacion Building, 122 Jupiter Street Makati City. For more details, please call (02) 899.1194. This boutique is worth a visit (quick couture at retail price!!).

We also passed by Abfit Jeans Co.-- where pleather bags (not bad, and they're not too expensive) are also available as well as, JEANS! So if you are looking to buy a pair of designer jeans (think Seven, Rock&Republic), do visit this shop. Also located at the 2nd Floor of Doña Consolacion Bldg. Call (02) 890.4326 for more info.

This is so cute. So I "borrowed" my Mom's Goyard black Croisiere35. And I haven't really... um.. returned it yet. Anyway I used it today. And BB used his white Croisiere35 as well!! Talk about coincidence! :D *Sing Ebony and Ivory...* ;) hehee

Anyway, I will "retire" early tonight. I need to get some R&R. By the way, I had so much fun with VADL and BB, and was also glad that I didn't miss my 5.30pm appointment with GR.

P.S. I want to thank the hags who send me text messages and emails about their bag stories. It really makes me happy to know that you deem my bag opinions important (but hey please know, I am NOT a bag expert, I DON'T know it all, although I wish I did hehe :o). But bottom line, if buying a certain bag that you like (but not too sure about yet) makes you happy, then get it! Don't really listen to my opinion :) *cough hello AA hehe* Sometimes I try to be the voice of reason and say "don't buy the bag, save your money", but I also don't want you to regret not getting it in the end (because of my stupid opinion!). My bottom line for you hags is, as long as you don't need to borrow money to fund an expensive bag lifestyle, you're alright :) Don't ever forget about your Priorities! (Hehe but don't let priorities kill your lusting for new bags-- lusting is STILL free, right? *snicker*) Nevertheless, I'd still love to be your bag hag-- though I don't deserve to be the Queen Mother of bag hags :D *The title is up for grabs! Open season!!!*

P.P.S. Hags, send me photos of your new bag acquisitions! I'd loooove to drool some more (especially now, since I can't really afford to get any new bag! Hafta save up for kid's education!! *sigh, so expensive!* Priorities, priorities!) :D

xo

The lure of the Doctor's Bag

2006-05-02T10:17:00.000+08:00

So my baghag friend LPT from the other side of the world sent me photos of her newlywed friend QueenK (yep she has more than one Hermes birkin and has CROC too!!), carrying the new Chanel bag from the "hybrid" line (I do so like the bag she is carrying! More than the bowling bag). And all those bags! Noticed the quilted bags and the vertical line-stitched bags (as opposed to chevron bags), although I'm not so sure if I'm one to get them. And oh yeah, lookie, a soft and furry Chanel handbag (and we all know how hard that is to maintain in a tropical climate). Sigh, this is what I love about LPT (apart from her already sinful *damnit, edible shoes and purses!* blog :D). And what I envy about her. She gets to go to all these designer launches *take note, by invitation only!*, yada yada. While I, can't even get myself invited to the opening of LV's big store (avec le bag bar) in Taipei (even BB got invited to the opening in Paris! And what's even sadder is, MY journalist friend in Paris was the one who had to invite ME as "companion"). So much for my so-called VIP status. That's it, I ain't getting anything from LV anymore (goodbye to one hag with purchasing power *riiight... Choke!*), at least not in Manila (*muwahaha*, boy talk about holding a grudge!). Oh and yeah, the bag hag's official press release: My so-called "loyalty" has somehow shifted to Goyard :) *nothing like excellent customer service! PLUS getting invited to meet the owners!* And of course with an official press release, comes an unofficial press release: I am too broke to buy LV *or another brand for that matter* hahaha)

But being broke will not in any way, stop me from staring at more bags. So here's more for your eyes to feast on :)

Mulberry

I've never been much of a Mulberry fan (think Roxanne-- chunky and very heavy *£506.38*), but this Euston bag is the classic doctor's bag shape. And it comes in pink :) *or oak* Priced at £421.28. I hope to get a closer look at this bag soon *wink!*

Marc Jacobs

Hey this is so interesting-- MJ's Satin Bauletto bag looks a lot like the Euston, don't you think? This is a rather cute bag, save for the fact that it's satin! But again, this is a bag I'd like to see up close as well. Priced at £544.68 (pretty pricey!)

Hmmm... is this the year of the DOG (DOctor's baG)?? Think: Marc Jacob's Perforated Brigitte, now the Bauletto, then Mulberry's Euston... Then the LV Speedy mutations err.. variations :D *hehe* (Don't mind me, I'm just sourgraping because I have no moolah to buy a new bag muwahaha)

Quick holler to Liz C. who found me :) Liz has 5 kids *WOW* and share the same bags and jewelry passion as I *it's ok, you're not the only one who can't afford all of those haha* :). She also went to Istanbul last year and was lucky enough to have been given some nice bling (from the Grand Bazaar!!!) for their 27th year wedding anniversary (Champagne and caviar in order, hello!) :) I do hope to meet you one day so you can show me your bling (and I can just ogle :D)

LAST CALL SAMPLE SALE ALERT! (Too bad it's not in the Philippines, but heck, never know who is reading this blog! LA LA Land netizens!!!): Find exclusive high-end designers like Chloe, Celine, Balenciaga, Ferretti, Ungaro, Zac Posen, Narcisco Rodriguez, Peter Som, Michael Kors, designer shoes, vintage accessories and many more all priced at wholesale and below! Plus receive a 10% discount at Prive Salon and Ona Spa (first time customers only). Valet parking available. Starts April 25- May 2. Where at: Prive Salon 7373 Beverly Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90036. Questions? Contact Lisa at 213.840.1664.

For those who have not yet visited my new site, please do drop by! It's allthingsexpensive.blogspot.com (to be updated at least once a week), and you need not ask me what the blog's all about :) *thwap!!*

xo

Launching ALLTHINGSEXPENSIVE.blogspot.com and being Beachbum Chic :)

2006-05-01T00:43:00.000+08:00

Am I becoming a self- proclaimed expert of all things expensive or what? First, expensive bags. Now, expensive jewellery! Know what, being the crazy woman that I am, I have decided to "branch out" and put up yet another blog. It's ALLTHINGSEXPENSIVE.blogspot.com
and there won't be any of that biatching or name-calling or what have you. Just what it says it is-- all things expensive (with emphasis on jewellery!)

I won't be updating that daily (just once or twice a week for that) like I would with this, heck this is already my LIFE here! But if your hubbies/ bf/ male mates enjoy reading the Robb Report Magazine, then I can assure you, I will attempt to make that site the FEMALE Robb Report :)

Anyway on to more bag hagging matters. I received this email a few days ago (which I had miserably failed to read coz I'm blind as a bat haha)

Dear Mrs. T.,

Hi! I'm in Jakarta right now on holiday and I just wanted to share the bags I've seen. Although I can't afford to buy designer bags myself, this setback doesn't stop me from admiring them. I thought you and your readers would like to know how bag obessed Indonesian ladies are! After spending more than an hour in Pondok Indah Mall 2 (the equivalent of Greenbelt 4 + Rockwell combined), I saw dozens of bags only you and your readers would appreciate: more than 20 LV bags including denim speedys, half a dozen Fendi Spy bags in many colors, almost a dozen Gucci bags, a pair of Balenciaga motorcycle bags, a couple of Burberry bags, and a bag from the Chanel luxury line. I think you would definitely enjoy it here! The ladies here take their bags seriously like you! :) Have a nice weekend!

Sincerely, JM

I've never been to Indonesia before, and I'd actually love it if anyone who has, can tell me more about the places to go there (aside from Bali!). And now, after having read that email, it made me wanna go there more!!! I do know our friend FL used to live there-- and I didn't know this fact until DP made it known to me (some friend I am! haha). Yeah well, perhaps when I have more moolah, I can take a trip there and spend some serious bucks *cough sponsors? anyone?*

Sigh, anyway, today was such a HOT day that it was so perfect for a dip in the pool. In fact, today was perfect Boracay weather!! (And I've NEVER been to Bora YET!! I know, sad) So with that in mind, I'd like to check out which beach bag totes are cool to have and to carry for, wherelse, the beach!!! Forget that I will need something waterproof. I want something that's chic!! Not some garden variety plastic bag!! :D hehe Geez talk about being so jaded!!

I am liking Marni's feather print cotton shopper bag with beaded detail and leather handles (I said, I'm willing to forego waterproof bags hehe). Browns Fashion UK is selling this bag for £305. Pretty pretty bag!

Emilio Pucci's Terrycloth Towelling print tote with white leather trim and pink and white nylon signature handles redefines beach chic. For £221.28 at net-a-porter, this is a bag worth investing in, if you are a beach bum and often take to the water.

Another bag, definitely meant for the beach, is Melissa Odabash's Nicolette Persplex Beach bag. Now this is a chic "plastic" bag. And yes, waterproof (well practically, if you don't count the leather trims). Price you pay for this bag is £178.72, also at net-a-porter. It looks so...Mod! :)

Although I have a growing dispassion for untreated canvas bags (simply because they catch dirt faster than you can catch a cold from an infected person), I have to give a nod to Louis Vuitton's Antigua Cabas. The Cabas GM works well for the beach, and it exudes this I'm-going-sailing-on-a-yacht look :)! I especially like this blue color too. At eluxury, this bag costs US$715.

Oh and need I say more, I have to include Goyard's St Louis PM tote here. That's thumbs up as a beach bag as well. Having custom stripes on it, makes it even more acceptable ;)

Another bag that you can probably source locally here in the Philippines is the woven straw "bayong" bag. But if you are feeling Beachbum diva, you can carry the Felix Rey Sequin Fiesta £68.08 and look sassy :) Again, available at net-a-porter.

Alrighty then, that pretty much settles tonight's post. My friend JC and JS just got hitched, and I wish them the very best in life and love, and a forever full of marital bliss!! ;)

Quick hollers to: Baghag MT is going to Australia sometime next week til mid May and I am totally envious!! Buy new bags there, girl! Not even early store closing hours should stop you from shopping. I have faith in you and don't you let me down :-)

Another Baghag Rhea is currently in Las Vegas and she just sent me a text message saying she is in Bag Heaven. Lady, stop gloating, because I can't stop salivating just thinking about Sin City! Haha, if I had enough free mileage, I'd just fly out of here and head to Las Vegas to ogle at Fred Leighton's and Hermes and Fendi and.... many many more :) *haha I am hopeless!*

Ok that's all for now, Please DO NOT FORGET to check out my new site ALLTHINGSEXPENSIVE.BLOGSPOT.COM and do spread the word!!!! :) Many thanks as well to LPT who has given me more info about ALL THINGS EXPENSIVE :)

P.S. Today is May 1, Labor Day, which also happens to be my Daddy's 4th year death anniversary. Daddy, wherever you are, I miss you dreadfully. I wish you can see how I am now, so you can laugh some more because your daughter turned out to be a dingdong bag hag :). I miss you so much :( *sniff* Hags, if you still have dads, do give them a call and tell them how much you love them. Please.

ATTENTION royalistas and jewellery hags!!

2006-04-30T00:02:00.000+08:00

JEWELLERY HAGS ALERT: For the hags who are closet case royalistas (come out come out, wherever you are!), here is a piece of info that you might want to know: The property from the collection of the late HRH Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon, is to go on the auction block in London on June 13 and 14. The auction is to be handled by Christie's.

Tsk, wouldn't it be tres cool to own something that royalty owned? :) Case in point, this monogram diamond brooch of the Princess made for her 21st birthday. It's estimated to fetch between US$ 5,500 - US$ 9,000. But it will most likely fetch twice or triple that amount. *Yikes there goes my hope of owning something royal haha*

If you know anyone who has the moolah, who can cough up perhaps US $1,000,000 for this beautiful antique riviere diamond necklace of the Princess', do tell em to make a bid for it. This piece was a personal bequest to HRH The Queen Mary, and is one of her most impressive pieces. Inherited by HRH Princess Margaret, who wore it on many significant occasions, including her wedding (source: Christie's).

The piece de resistance of this auction of course, is the Garrard- signed Poltimore tiara (made way back in the 1870s for Baroness Florence, wife of the second Baron Poltimore-- treasurer to Queen Victoria's household), which the Princess had purchased in 1959 (for her wedding) from the fourth Baron Poltimore's daughter, Lady Stucley. The price she had paid for this stunning diadem was rumored to have only been about 5,000 pounds!! (Heck I would've gladly paid that price for that diadem! I'd just have to take out both my kids' college funds haha).

Here's another photo of Princess Margaret wearing both the Poltimore tiara and the Queen Mary riviere. Truly stunning pieces and such a shame that the pieces are to be auctioned off-- this was apparently a decision made by Viscount Linley and family to pay for inheritance taxes. Not all royals can afford all those death duties, palace maintenance costs, etc! Sigh, most Royals are asset rich but not cash rich.

Oh well, can't have em all! This topic made me not look at bags for once. I think looking at jewelry is a much more lethal hobby than bag surfshopping. Nite for now hags :D

xo

The Rep, Firma, Goyard, and my Little Miss Marc!

2006-04-29T01:49:00.000+08:00

Yay, didn't realize the weekend has arrived. I was supposed to have flown off to Bali for the wedding of our friend BP to JT, but I also have another wedding of another good friend JC to attend the day after. I can't be superwoman and be at two places at the same time (that, plus I am financially strapped, remember? *wink!*)

So, I hate to bid the Bali trip goodbye, but I was left with no choice. To drown my sorrows, DH and I went on a feel-good date-- one of the dates that we used to have when we were still, umm.. "dating"! :-) *We always have feel-good dates, but tonight was special because this was really one of our rituals back when we weren't married OR even dating yet!*

The Repertory has been relocated to Greenbelt 1 (of course this I only knew recently-- the last time DH and I watched the Rep was back at Edsa Shangrila! We totally skipped the whole RCBC theater thing, and the saddest part was, we were so much closer there than the Shang!). Anyway, "2 & 2 Make Sex" was showing, which co- starred DH's friend's wife, Anna B.

Hags, if you have nothing to do on weekends (i.e. tired of watching movies), do check out the Rep. It's so worth the money you pay, and you get a slice of culture (DUH!). This particular play we watched, is hilarious! (Note to Baroness B: Go watch this, you will crack up!)They show from April 28-30; May 5-7 at the Rep's Globe Theater at Onstage Greenbelt 1. Call 887-0710/ 891-9999 (Ticketworld). Tickets at Php 500, Php 300, and Php 200.

Our show was still at 8pm, so we walked around Greenbelt 1 for a bit, though we just ended up at National Bookstore browsing through magazines. I of course, ended up buying some. :)
Check out the magazine section of NBS. DO YOU HAGS RECOGNIZE ANYONE? :) Hint Hint: Lookie at the front row, center!!! :) As Paris Hilton would say, "That's hot!" (You know who YOU are *wink!*)

So, post Rep, DH and I walked around a bit in Greenbelt 3, in search of a dessert place. Of course no trip is complete without a quick stopover at Firma. And no day would be complete if the baghag didn't spend (oh my, oh my stop stop already!), so I ended up with a new necklace ;) Not too expensive and loving it!!Check it out (yep that's moi, and yes, I now have shorter hair haha). I must've looked so unmatched, even Little Miss Marc had to show THAT sulky face of hers *Tsk, so what!*. I do love my shell necklace though-- I channeled The Little Mermaid Ariel's arch nemesis *who wore that necklace with the enchanting voice hehe*. Hmm... how does it really look? I guess layering chunky pieces didn't work out too well... But hey, deep down, I thought they looked awesome together *hehe forget Little Miss Marc!* And people probably thought I was a walking fashion disaster (err.. tell me something new-- I have ALWAYS been a walking fashion disaster anyway)

Ok before I park my words, I want to post this new bag photo (to be uploaded tomorrow at Tresormakati). This is a Gucci camel all-leather bag with the horsebit logo in blackened silver hardwaremeasuring 13"L x 9"H x 2.5"W. The bag is still quite new looking and very clean, and comes with its Gucci dustbag. Asking Price is Php 18,000. It's up for grabs :)

And last but not least, here is what Houston's baghag LPT sent me on my email the other day. WOOHOO another GOYARD toting celeb-- singer Cristina Milian (on the latest issue of In Style- May 2006 with Debra Messing on the cover). :D Thanks for the photo girl!! Go Go Goyard! (Check out that custom painted heart!!!)

ATTENTION HAGS: If you have a bag you'd like to brag about, do email me a photo of you carrying it (you can crop the photo to just your bag, if you are shy :-) ) And tell me all about the bag!! It's time we have more BRAG-A-BAG HAGS! Don't worry, no one will judge you. We are already all above- gentry, remember? :-)

Have a great weekend you all!!
P.S. (Addendum!!) I took a photo of what my new TRESOR website will look like. It will launch fairly soon. Give my webman a week more or so to teach me how to upload everything else on my own and I'll launch it when I can already maintain it :) TELL ME WHAT YOU THINK with my sneak peek !! :D Comments are appreciated!

Bag review-- Bags under US $1,000

2006-04-28T10:34:00.000+08:00

*Yawn* Mornin to you all.
Last night was so much fun, as DH and I attended a dinner party at the Conservatory at the Manila Peninsula Hotel. I could not take more photos because everything was so... dark! This was in fact, the only photo I managed to take. We were seated next to our good friend and ace lensman Patrick Uy, and I lamented that my camera needs to be upgraded-- seriously. Either that, or I am just a really bad photographer (It's not the camera honey, it's you! *gulp, me?!*). But then again, anyone who has the right equiment these days can by default, become a photographer. Lost is the "true" art of photography. Anyone who can point and click, is now considered a photographer (to add the adjective "professional", you must have some expensivo equipment with those zoomy lens thingie). But like anything, there is always an exception. And that, applies to me. Even with the most high tech camera, I betcha I still will end up taking crappy photos, and I will still always end up with crappy photos. Besides, you do have to have the moolah to pay for a good camera if you want to be a "pro photographer"-- and I can't seem to cough up US $1,000 for a semi- pro Olympus (thanks Patrick Uy for the recommendation, but I frankly would rather spend that money on a new bag *hahaha this bag hag will NEVER learn!!*)

It is with that premise (should I have $1,000) that I move on to talk about which bags are in my opinion, "worthy" purchases for such *cough* ridiculous amount. *hehe this is sad-- designers are really milking us consumers. Apparently they haven't the faintest clue how hard it is to make $1,000. Or maybe they did know. But not anymore :D Tsk!*

From NeimanMarcus.com

For US $850, I like the Marc Jacobs Daria bag in Gold. Yes, metallic. It's still around. Lookie at Lindsay Lohan, seen here with a Chanel quilted "kelly" *whee like my tweedy kelly!* in metallic silver (though I frankly would rather not use Lindsay as a bag icon, she admittedly does have good bags). Since our phantom budget for this post is $1,000, I would get the Daria.

Another Marc Jacobs bag that's quite nice (perhaps it's cause I am partial to anything green *hehe no pun intended*), is the Mia satchel at US $895. Two things I like about Marc Jacobs: there are days when you just don't want to carry a logo- screaming bag. Marc it is. You also want to make sure that the designer bag (for which you paid a premium) carries "weight"-- hello, Marc Jacobs and the LV connection!

I am also liking this Carlos Falchi Deerskin double pocketed hobo in putty (chalk color). The whole bag just looks so buttery soft. I don't know how easy it is to carry the bag though, with that shoulder strap, but I am for now, willing to overlook that, and just consider the softness of the body of the bag. Sigh... Anything buttery soft will do, thank you! At US $995 (not a cheap bag, that's for sure!)

ACK! Now this bag, I would NOT even allow to be paid to carry. BUGLY BAG ALERT!!! Bag sacrilege!!! How could Neiman Marcus stock a designer (Elaine Turner) whose collection includes this Hermes Kelly LOOKALIKE bag?! For US $450, I'd rather park my money elsewhere. (I smell a lawsuit here from the big H when they see this bag! At Neiman!!!)

For $45 less, I'd rather be seen with the Bulga flap satchel bag (US$ 405). It looks a lot more original!

Tsk some designers really just don't have any more creative juice flowing. All it takes is for some venture capitalist to be persuaded into funding a collection, and for the designer to know the right people up there (ding ding Neiman, Saks, Barneys buyers and merchandisers OR magazine people!!) and voila, a collection at the retail heavens is born (sounds too easy huh? Ok, I should give them more credit, really. But wait, WE are the ones buying THEIR stuff! They are milking US and not vice versa! So, Customer BETTER BE king! :D ).

Off topic, I had to post this photo of the Versace fringe hobo (I know, I know, this bag is way out of budget for our topic, considering it costs US $4,237.00!!). Did I miss something in bag fashion? Since when did it become cool to carry your Afghan hound (Doesn't the hobo look like this beautiful dog?)?? I mean, sure I know Afghan hounds sit well next to "Rolls Royces and fashionable fur", but I don't think they are meant to be carried on the shoulder! I'd rather have an Afghan hound as my companion than this Versace hobo :D *hehehe ok that was mean!! But seriously, I can't get over the resemblance of that hobo to the pretty dog! But just because they look alike, doesn't mean the bag is beautiful (puke)*

*Snicker weevil weevil bag hag!!*

Ok that's about it for now, I am thinking of crawling back to bed again before my appointment at 2pm. It was so strange-- I actually dreamt last night that I went back to school. And my dad was with me (he brought me to school)! My daddy's 4th year death anniversary is coming up already (which was probably also why I dreamt of him) *sigh and not a day passes that I don't miss him*. I will attempt some quick shuteye in hopes I can see him in my dreams again. This time, I hope Daddy and I go bag shopping :) Daddy, wherever you are, I miss you. VERY MUCH :(

POIRE PHONE POUCHES

2006-04-27T09:50:00.000+08:00

Hi hags!
POIRE phone pouches are baaaaack!!
Unfortunately good ol' customs decided to tax them about 16% so the price has increased :(
Anyway here they are!

1. Brown fragrance (brown background with brown & white flowers and blue piping)
2. Tartan scottie (pink embroidered doggie has a collar with a crystal stud and pink piping )
3. Pucci (with lilac piping)
4. Argyle (green with lime background and baby pink piping)
5. Red poodles (reddish-orange satiny background with blue poodles and light blue piping)
6. Snowflakes (brown with light blue snowflakes and crystal studs)
7. Orange fragance (aqua background with brown and orange flowers and brown piping)

*The Pucci print is somewhat larger and can accommodate a bigger phone :)

Please text me at +63916-7580857 for orders or for more details. Appreciate if you could identify yourself. (No anonymous texts please-- they won't be entertained)

:)
xo

What celebs are carrying! (from E! Online)

2006-04-27T00:18:00.000+08:00

THIS ARTICLE IS A REPRINT FROM EONLINE.COM
Thought that I might republish this and show the hags what the celebs are currently carrying :)

Bag Ladies

Spring is just around the corner, which means it's time to go shopping. Stars like Jessica Simpson and Lindsay Lohan are snatching up the latest must-have--a fabulous handbag.

CELEBRITY FAVORITES
Got the bucks? Then get one of these celbrity faves!

Jimmy Choo: A favorite accessory of Nicole Richie, Halle Berry, Charlize Theron and Lindsay Lohan, the Ramona is available in calf leather ($1,850) as well as crocodile ($11,000)

Goyard:
This pricey purse graces the arms of Diane Kruger and Jessica Simpson ($1700-1800)

Mulberry Ayler: Liv Tyler and Cate Blanchett own this woven bucket bag (approximately $1200)

Dior: The Gaucho is hot and trendy, just like its owners--Jessica Alba, Gwen Stefani and Mischa Barton ($1410-$1995)

Chloe: Last season, it was all about the Chloe Paddington bag, and now Chloe lovers Jessica Simpson, Sienna Miller and Kirsten Dunst are clamoring for the Silverado, the latest addition to the designer's handbag line ($1740)

Yves Saint Laurent:

Kate Moss, Demi Moore and Madonna all love the Muse; it's definitely a must-have for spring ($1295)

Fendi: Lindsay Lohan has a B bag in every color! (up to $5,190)

Marc Jacobs: While Jessica Simpson totes around the full-size Brigette bag, Nicole Richie opted for the smaller version ($1350)

Chanel: Lindsay Lohan counts the quilted tote as a part of her collection! ($1275)

Crowning Glory, a Rude Awakening, and then some

2006-04-26T00:45:00.000+08:00

This has got to be the ultimate tote any bag hag could ever have. The softest leather with a stitched- in jigsaw puzzle tote by Henry Cuir, priced at an astronomical US$ 5,950.00 at Barney's New York. It's not even chevre leather! *Scoff*

It's high time some hags come up to me and unseat me from my so-called royal bag pedestal, and parade around this work-of-art-on-the-shoulder bag in front of me and ask me what brand it is (and I betcha I wouldn't even remember). Someone? Anyone?

SENSELESS ROYAL-WANNABE BAGHAG AT WORK: Ahh wait. Speaking of royal, I have decided on giving hags royal titles (whoa, suddenly I'm the Queen here? hehe), in keeping with my guilty pleasure- cum- obsession with anything royal. So here it shall be written that hags who own one Hermes birkin/kelly (leather- box, epsom, togo, clemence, barenia, fjord, chevre, suede) are from now on, to be titled Baron or Baroness. Hags who own more than one Hermes birkin/kelly (any leather) are to be given the title of Duke or Duchess. Hags with one Hermes birkin/kelly in exotic leather- croc, alligator, lizard, ostrich are to be rightfully titled Prince or Princess. Of course the ultimate bag hag/ Queenbee will have to be someone who owns more than 5 Hermes birkins/kellys! So, who am I here? I'm your friggin' Queenmother *muwahaha* (I can't actually, I don't even have bragging rights to an Hermes croc birkin!! That though, shan't stop me from lusting for one.)

Sigh. That wasn't an entirely pointless paragraph (although it was a really and tearfully, a rather senseless one, one that could have incited bagclass wars *tsk what's gotten into me?! hello, downhill slalom from here*). Every bag hag deserves to be called a Prince/ Princess. Bag hags transcend class, damnit. MANTRA: WE ARE ALL ABOVE GENTRY!!! But like I said, the paragraph was not pointless because it really just proved one thing-- My secret desire to wear a diamond tiara *Baghag gone kookoo!!* Why'd you think my logo has a crown?If I could not wear one, something I own will! :D *Ok that was real sad. Now I know why some (or many?) people think I am vulgar hahaha*

Ok going back to the Henry Cuir bag above (boy did my mind wander off! At least this post is not contrived *or is it?*), there's another one named Baule at US $1095 though obviously less spectacular but definitely understated. Honestly, don't ask me what makes this bag worth US $1000+. Explaining why it is so to me is like explaining to an Eskimo why ice cream is best eaten cold. (Psst, that other Henry Cuir jigsaw bag just suddenly reminded me of a leather couch!!! BAD BAD!!! Bag hag, BEHAVE!)

As I write this post, I get handed a thick envelop which contained my credit card bill. *GULP* The credit card company found me (I had stored my credit card in a place even I don't remember. Poor DH had to get a replacement for me-- I am too impaired to find out how to report a lost card on my own. Such a useless woman I am. Tsk!)

RUDE AWAKENING: And yet, I still get my credit card bill. *SHOCK, JAW DROP* Umm, I didn't anticipate this. I went to Egypt! Not friggin Paris! What could I have possibly bought?! I just remembered buying that rectangular plate thingie which cost something like US $15! (I bought it because it looked so Versace *label whoring continued in Egypt!*) Why is the damn thing so thick?! I don't even remember going to any designer shop anywhere :( And I certainly didn't get my own credit card swiped by someone else from right under my nose! So that thick "wad" of Bills (alas, not bills of money)? All mine. (Note that I am already broke right down to my shins to begin with!)

AWFUL TRUTH: The bill was all about-- Lotsa food, food, food (dinner at my fave Japanese haunt Kuretake at Rockwell *sister restaurant of Sushi Tsumura-- if you have not been there yet, you are MISSING OUT!!!*). And then there were the Chanel glasses and the Hermes twilly (thanks a lot, Dubai). *Bawl* I mourn over the loss of my money in my already- shrunken bank account, mourn over the fact that I actually didn't spend it on A bag (mind you I was eyeing either an LV multicolore Trouville or this new LV multicolore Priscilla *to be out in May-- doesn't the bag remind you of the Damier Belem? It's rather cute* But I did NOT make any bag purchase!), and mourn over the remains (evidence) of the good food I had (check out my back fat, it's HUGE). But hey, there is always laughter in tears. At least I can always hide under those chic (or at least I think so) black Chanel glasses and tie that Hermes twilly to my neck for my oh-I'm so-Parisienne- chic wannabe look! And carry my bag that is my crowning glory *wink ;)*SCORE!!!!! :) Ah it's time to stop typing. I am no longer making any sense. I just wish no English teacher or Editor in his/her right frame of mind would read this post. It's really garbage (a bunch of inconsistent tenses, incorrect use of words, running sentences... this post *THE WHOLE BLOG in fact* has the makings of an "F" if graded!) It therefore comes as no surprise that no editor wants to hire me to write for his/her magazine/ newspaper *muwahahaha so sad, yet so true*!!

P.S. Since I'm too lazy to check my archives for past posts, I will just correct something here-- I believe I had mentioned the Goyard Croisiere as Croisiere 30 when in reality, it should be Croisiere 35. Apologies for the confusion created. That's what happens when a bag hag gets a whiff of the "almost- famous" air (oh puke!!! I can be a real dingdong! Blah!). Think my "Crowning Glory" Goyard bag (I really am deluded into thinking I am baghag royalty!! OhMahGawd, PAH-THEH-TICCC). Which leads to my second P.S.

P.P.S. I took my mom's Croisiere bag out for a spin today-- without her knowing it. DaphP saw me with it when we had our little tete a tete at Press. My aunt ALSO saw me with it as I waited for my car (I broke out in cold sweat when I saw her too). So AuntieN, if you are reading my blog, you BETTER NOT tell :D *shhhhhhhhh "Mum's" the word, get it? hehe :)*

P.P.P.S. If you can spend US $500 on a bag, you won't even wince when you fish out Php 700/ US$ 15 (for sizes 40 up, they're Php 800) for a pair of these super cool L&L Espadrilles handmade in Spain *natch!!* Bag hag embarrassing moment alert: I attempted to buy a pair of pekpek shorts at Zara (to wear with these espadrilles) but OhMahGaWd I swear my soul showed right through the shorts' legholes! I was thinking of matching a nice pair of green pekpek shorts with one of these L&L espadrilles for that chirpy summery look, but I now have to find a better pair of shorts (err perhaps something not so... short?! But blah wouldn't that be defeating the purpose though? The search for the perfect shorts, is on.) Anyway, hags, if you like these L&L espadrilles (you can give those Havaianas a rest), please contact lizaandlara@gmail.com

Nite! You must be as dizzy as I, after reading this post :)

More Louis Vuitton Bags

2006-04-25T00:00:00.000+08:00

Coming from that boobtube appearance on DaphP's show last Sunday, I am still sorta on a high (WOW this is realllly getting to my head, I reallly am deluding myself into thinking I AM popular! *oh Puke puhleeaaase!!*) Earth to Mrs. T!!!

Ok fine. Sigh. Moving on to more bag talk-- let's discuss our love for all bags designer *cough you label whores you-- me included!*. Especially LV. Apart from the fuchsia and green denim bags that are coming out this season for Louis Vuitton, here are a few more monogram pieces that have just debuted:

Tikal PM

Tikal GM
Pochette CancunI am so not fond of the Tikal style. That turnlock reminds me so much of Coach bags. If I were to spend a good US $1,200 on a bag, I'd honestly not spend it on the Tikal GM. Sorry, but this doesn't score any points for me right now. I'd rather do the pushlocks please. Those were a lot cuter.

Why pray tell, so suddenly is the LV Murakami Trouville in Black appealing to my bag senses? Tsk. This is LV withdrawal kicking in. I haven't been to the local LV boutique since March. It's almost end of April already.

Sigh, to be a woman and to have so many skeletons in her closet (skeletons who carry bags *teehee of course, can't have it any other way!*), a travesty I tell you. Time to turn in for the night.

xoxo

Bag Hag Guests at ANC Life- DaphP's TV Show!

2006-04-24T09:18:00.000+08:00

It helps that I brag about something after-the-fact it has already happened. That way, I don't get accused of being a "real" braggart (although I KNOW I am anyway *what a way to make myself feel better!*)

Last Sunday (yesterday), DaphP guested your kookie baghag, along with two other VERY popular bloggers-- dessertcomesfirst.blogspot.com and thefashpack.blogspot.com (owned and maintained by LoriB and LIC respectively) on her ANC Life show at the ANC Channel. (Hags, you should make it a Sunday habit to tune into her show. I know a bunch of you already do :D. Others, please mark every Sunday at 7pm on your calendars and datebooks!) I felt soooo embarrassed to be on the show actually. Because I was sandwiched between two professional bloggers-- I mean the word professional in every sense: they don't bitch about their lives, and they seriously discuss desserts and fashion (respectively of course hehe). LoriB's blog even got mentioned recently in The Wall Street Journal! Meanwhile, all I do is talk about how broke I am and how hard I lust for the newest bag (and how I can possibly pay for it) *PATHETIC*.

Of course you can't expect me to post photos of the show here-- especially not with ME in it *Feeling important again! hehe*. After all, I would not want readership to drop out of shock (I mean SHOCK). So, in true baghag form, I am posting the *woohoo* international (yes, Daph's show IS international!) debut of my white custom-striped Goyard croisiere 30 :)And here are my bag's friends *black bag is Prada-- postscript: thefashpack had to remind this bag hag who her bag was, because this silly baghag was obviously clueless-- see I am not rightfully titled haha!* who also guested :) *Teehee, my bag's new friends :)*DaphP's bag was not yet part of the shot because she was still in the make-up room at the time.

Oh and here's the dressing/make-up room!Shu Uemura's XengZ was also there (standing up)-- doing Daph's makeup. (I am SO embarrassed. I mistook Xeng for CarminaS in one of my previous posts! SHAME!!) Anyway, there's DaphP with her trusted LV monogram Speedy (My Goyard croisiere was hoping to meet hers :D Tsk awwww) *Can you find the LV Speedy?*

Baghag gone haywire ALERT: You know you're crazy when-- you arrange for your bag and your friend's bag to meet. *Screeech* I AM bag crazy!! :)

Anyway, we all had a wonderful time last night, again thanks to DaphP! Psst, D, we should have our bags meet someday *hehee*

I have to head off in a short while (I woke up at 9am today! WOO!!) I will also just post 2 photos of how the Prada bags look like when carried. This is the navy blue cotton Prada priced at Php 8,000 only!! (It's under 10K!! So cheap!) It works carried as a handbag as well as shoulderbag.

And the red Prada bugatti- shaped bag which is not yet on the Tresor site. :) Just to give you readers a lil heads up :) It's priced at Php 22,000. Still quite new and has a lock and key!!

P.S. Thefashpack had asked me a question on her blog last April 8, to which I didn't answer. So, here goes! That Fendi Spy color available at Rustan's is either honey or cognac colored. Don't ask me why the choice of names (doesn't anything dessert or alcohol- related always end up sounding more enticing than say, using the word "tan"? :D hehe ask LoriB, she'd agree to the word Honey. Besides, it does make the Spy sound remarkably sweeter doesn't it? :D)