Forever 21 Friday Sale

As many of you may know, this weekend is jam-packed with sales! It's the payday weekend and stores just can't NOT host sales as consumers will surely flood the malls to spend their hard-earned money. I was in SM Makati today with my good friends Justine Caballero and Mirra Reyes. We checked out the Forever 21 sale and boy, was it CRAZY! I got there a little around 11 AM and the line was so long, my eyes can barely keep up! They chopped 50% off on a great selection of items (other items were either regular-priced or 20% off). Any girl on a budget simply cannot resist a discount like that. I know I can't! It's a good thing my graduation dress cost only 1/5 of our projected budget so I had left-over moolah to get whatever my heart desires (I know it's not typical of She Goes Thrifty to splurge but this is a SALE! I repeat, a SALE!). With a little over Php 2000 in hand, I was able to take home three dresses a pair of rose-colored shades, and 6 sets of nail files.

It was also a good thing that I had friends to help me comb through every rack and help me decide which items to get. If it were up to me, my inner cheapskate would probably skip over a couple of irresistible deals, but with my friends' help, I was able to finally get those clothes I've been dying to have in my closet.

Here are a few tips when going to a Forever 21 sale (or any other sale for that matter):

• Come early! So you'll get first dibs and an advantage in the line for the cashier as well as the dressing room. Shopping in crowd-infested sales takes a lot of time. Allot time for your shopping.
• Pack light. Bring a small messenger bag, if possible. Lugging around a heavy bag in one shoulder will definitely take its toll on you.
• Wear comfortable and battle-worthy clothes. Honestly, wearing heels in intense shopping sprees will get you nowhere. It's better to wear flip-flops, sandals, or any pair of comfy flats.You're going head-to-head with TONS of other shoppers. Breaking a sweat is definitely an understatement.
• Bring cash. You never know if your card will get denied, so it's always better to be prepared for when that happens.
• Check your budget. You can grab anything you see but sift through your items later on, before paying for them. You don't want to spend on a lot of things you won't need and things that are way out of your budget. It's impractical to grab that neon-striped tee when you actually need formal or office wear... Which brings me to...
• Think twice or better yet, thrice before purchasing an item. Consider the clothes that are already in your closet. Make sure your picks are flexible and can mix-and-match with a whole lot of your other owned pieces. Clothes are investments. Stretch your wardrobe and your investment will definitely go far. 
• Check the items for damages. Loose threads, holes, tears, slits, stains, and the like are some of the things that you must definitely be on the lookout for when shopping. Chances are, people have already shifted through the racks and you have to make sure that you're still getting top-quality stuff even though you're paying for them for a fraction of the original cost.
• Bring a friend. You're going to need their input in your picks. Plus, you can count on them to wait in line for you while you exchange that dress for a bigger or smaller size.
• Have lots of patience. People, especially Filipinos, cannot resist a good sale. Expect very little elbow room. At the end of the day, all the crowdedness is worth it once you get that buy you've been eye-ing for the past few weeks... 50% off!
• Just enjoy the whole experience! Shopping is such a liberating experience. Let your hair down and make the most out of your shopping pilgrimage!

Check out my picks:

There's always that semi-obligatory outfit post.
Wear comfortable clothes when you intend to go to a sale like this.

Black top from Get Laud
Tawny belt, Thrifted
Gypsy skirt from Mom
Gold Flash flip-flops from Havaianas
Watch from Swiss Army

Got these for 20 pesos, I think. I love turquoise accessories!
They're so versatile and have that instant boho vibe!

Keep It Simple, Stupid! (KISS)
Let statement pieces like these speak for themselves.

With my preschool buddy, Jaja. :)

Thanks a lot, girls! <3

Skirt from Landmark, Php 179 (originally priced at Php 199, but had 10% off!)
Saw a similar skirt in Forever 21 for around Php 400.

If you can't handle more high-end items from retails stores like Forever 21 at the moment, it's alright to browse through their immense store and get inspiration. Then you can go out and look for more affordable alternatives, whether it be in your trusty department stores (check out Landmark - there is a wide selection of clothes for every occasion, need, and style - sans the hefty price tag, of course) or in ukay or thrift shops. 

Just carry your clothes with confidence and who would know and care about the brand? It's all in the attitude!

The Forever 21 sweetheart dress I was seriously doubting if I should get.
Eventually, I gave in. Thanks to Mirra's encouragement!
Original Price: Php 1175
Sale Price: Php 587.50

I love that this dress hugs me in all the right places!
Check out the interesting cut!

There's the sexy back! See, I don't really wear revealing clothes so this
one really takes the cake for me. As they say, "No guts, no glory!"

Forever 21 Cap-sleeved dress for the office (belt included)
Original Price: Php 1025
Sale Price: Php 512.50

Proper enough for the office, yet playful enough for a late-night
dinner out on the town with friends!

The belt adds that cinch to my waist.
For bigger girls like myself, this really helps create the illusion
of shape and helps enhance my curves.

                                            

                                                     A rust-colored shirt-dress from Forever 21
                                                   Original Price: Php 1025
                                                   Sale Price: Php 512.50

The interesting embroidery detail really caught my eye.
It's too sheer to be worn on its own.
A pair of skinnies will help complement this piece.

Stocking up on nail files!

Rose-colored aviator shades.
Price: Php 225

What did you think of my picks?

If you have time, do swing by Forever 21 SM Makati and check out their 50% off sale! You have until Sunday to get those hard-earned bucks rolling! Treat yourself to something nice! You will not only feel great (because shopping really is therapeutic!), you will also invest in quality clothes and items that will last you a long time. It's nice to feel like you've earned something, right? Well, this sale might just be your great reward! Go ahead, spoil yourself a little! ;)

Love,

SGT <3

Cavi-trip!

Happy Saturday, loves! How's your weekend so far? Mine's been pretty busy! It actually started last Thursday when I watched Sipat Lawin Ensemble's Battalia Royale in Cubao with my Tanghalang Pilipino classmate and friend, Agnes. I was lucky enough to score a slot in the guest list to watch their technical dress rehearsal, or as we lovingly call it in theater, the TDR. I also ran into my friend Kiko Miranda who was part of the cast where he played Lakhi Yoo. I'll write all about the play and show you some of the action in a separate post.

After the show, Agnes and I trooped to Cubao to grab a late dinner and a few rounds of drinks at Uncle Cheffy (side note: Try their East Meets West pizza and Mojito!). We met up with Aerol and Tootoots (friends from Dakila) for more drinks in Cubao Expo.

Then the next day, I travelled halfway across Luzon to Los Banos to get my transcript and meet up with a few friends as well. It was fruitful, to say the least. ;)

Anyway, so here we are now, and today we went to Cavite to visit a few family friends from Bacolod. We were served empanada (yum!), iced tea, laing (my favorite!), rice, palabok, and fried fish. It really pays to sit down  and have a few laughs while eating. It makes the meal that much more enjoyable, even if you only have bagoong for viand. Also, I learned a lot of tips and tricks in terms of beauty and other practical advice from an Occupational Therapy professor from DLSU Manila. The house owner's husband was from UP and he was telling us about his time at his fraternity. It made me want to join a sorority again. Okay, maybe in grad school.

Also, I had the chance to pet and play with cats! I love cats but my mom won't let me take care of one because  she has allergies. You should really meet Darky, a fat, lazy, and vain kitty cat. He loves posing for pictures!

Here's a visual run-down of today's events:

Inside-the-car-with-nothing-much-to-do shot.

Who says you can't wear black on a summer day?
Random top, Multi-layered electric-pleated skirt (Php80/$2),
 Happy Feet bakya (got these on sale for Php750), Creato bag (Php150/$4)

I have big feet. And they are happy. :)

Meet Dougar (meaning: duling na Garfield). He walks with a limp and has epileptic episodes. Poor baby.

Ang saya-saya lang ni Mommy!

Forgot to ask for his name! He's the well-informed professor who we're very happy to meet!

Lunch is ready!

Laing! My fave!

The prettiest girls are the happiest girls!

Lola Cil. She's a really joyful person. I admire her dedication to her Catholic faith.

And then there's Darky. See? Told you he's fierce! ;)

I'm sorry I can't write decently right now. These past few days have been really hectic! I always come home just wanting to crawl into bed and stay there. I'll make it up to you, I promise! ;)

Love,

SGT <3

Sisters for Life

In the spirit of my departure to another land, I invited my high school pals over for a small get-together at my house, where I cooked Chunky Tomato with Basil, Tuna, and Mushroom pasta and my mom made lumpia, siomai, kaldereta, and fried chicken.

Most of my closest friends in high school were my classmates since the first grade! It really pays off to have studied in one school for 10 years. I got to keep a solid set of sisters and nothing much has changed over the years, well, except for our different career paths. But other than that, we're basically the same old crazy-ass girls who kicked and fought our way through elementary and high school life together. :)

I haven't seen them in a looong time. I've been busy with theater, with juggling two organizations, with school and graduation, and with everything in between! It's crazy! I always miss out on occasions and celebrations! Good thing they were all free for dinner last night! Unfortunately, we were not complete, but in any case, here's a run-down of what went down in La Hacienda Saavedra last night. ;) (credits to Felice Salido for the photos)

Yup, that's me right there. I was a siopao with bangs!

An attempt to mock the duck face/pout. That's Paul by the way, Clara's boyfriend, on the right-most side. Such a nice guy!

We're really nothing but nut-jobs and crazy daisies but aren't we all? :)

The night starts off with laughter and so much chismax!

What do you get when you have scarves lying around? THIS SHOT.

That's me, Fel, Clara, and Eis.

Warning: These girls boob-grab each other for fun. Come near us at your own risk!

This is no unusual scene when we are all in one room. We're sheer chaos waiting to happen. :)) Oh, that's Jus, Fel, Me, Clara, Kim, and Eis.

Eis is dancing the "Super Bass Dance Craze." As you can see, we all find it super hilarious!

We call this our kandidata pose. 

Friends like these are priceless. You can't buy genuine souls that will stick with you even after parting ways for four years (college) and still laugh with you as if no time had gone by since you last hung out. :)

And of course, there's the quintessential chocolate cake... but we were all too full from dinner that we only consumed half an entire roll.

That's Chammy, my best friend, between Clang and Fel, and that's Jaha, Justine's boyfriend. We had more chit-chats and catching up over Tanduay Ice.

Chammy was late. She had just come from work, from the spa I've written about HERE . Make sure to check out a Boracay Sands Spa near you! (preferably the Santo Tomas, Batangas branch! Teehee!

Good friends + great food + alcohol = recipe for disaster ONE HELL OF A GOOD NIGHT! I'm definitely going to miss these girls! 

 I was never the barkada  type since high school. I was friends with a lot of people but I enjoyed the company of only a few close pals and I'd rather keep it that way. I'm so blessed for having these wonderful people in my life. They're always supportive and caring. You know you can run to them when life is much too cruel to handle. We always have each other's backs. There is no need for competition and definitely no pretenses. We all shine in our own special way and we let each other add a whole new color into our own lives. It's like there's really something for everyone. They're the most genuinely nicest set of friends I know and I wouldn't have them any other way.

Thank you, girls! Thank you for being there all these years. If there's anything I know with much certainty, it's this -- we're not just friends, we're sisters for life. :)

 Love,

SGT <3