Closet Sale SOON!

I will be selling some of my pre-loved clothes and shoes very soon! Some of the items were never worn. Some were worn once or twice. Others just don't fit me right anymore. They need new loving homes! I promise you rock-bottom prices for cute summer and rainy day must-haves! Keep your eyes peeled for the sale very, very soon! Kisses! ;)

Love,

SGT <3

Can't decide!

I've been dying to get a pair of shoes from All That Clutter as they had a half-off SALE on their cute shoes. I am choosing between these two lovely pairs and unfortunately, I only have budget for one! :(

If you would be kind enough to help me decide which one to get, that would be super! Oh, and don't forget to drop by their page too. Check out their new items!

Please, please, please help me decide which pair to get! It's my birthday treat for myself! Teehee! 

Love,

SGT <3

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

SMthin' Like That

I've been trying to run away from my computer, so much so that I had to find an excuse to get out of the house. Since I seemed to have another boring day at home on my to-do list, I figured, why not run a few errands and check out The Body Shop's 60-Minute Sale, and enjoy myself at the mall while I'm there.

First things, first, I had my picture taken for my visa application. Then, I ran to The Body Shop downstairs to check out what the sale was all about. Unfortunately, photos were not allowed to be taken inside the store and I wasn't able to buy anything because I was too pissed that I can't shoot pictures to share with you all.  *insert sad face here*

Afterwards, I headed off to Etude House to cool off and to scour their racks for a solution to my pimples and for things to pack for Myanmar. I ended up buying their Lemon Tea Cleansing Foam (I already tried their Aloe Vera variant and I loved it!), which  according to the friendly saleslady, is very good for my combination skin as it is most effective in keeping the shine at bay. Given the humid weather in Myanmar, an oil-control cleanser that's gentle enough for everyday use is just about what I need.

I also jumped for joy when I got hold of their Styling Eyeliner in 01 (Black), a retractable liner that's perfect for tight-lining and filling in those hard-to-reach corners. It's definitely a steal at Php 128 (~ $3), don't you think? (I'll write separate entries for today's purchases later on.)

After a long while at Etude House, Chammy (my friend) met up with me. We had lunch at Pizza Hut (bye, bye, diet!)

What's for lunch: two solo-sized pizzas, a plate of Ceasar's salad, a bowl of cream of mushroom soup
(sans the croutons; I hate croutons!), a plate of carbonara, and two iced teas. Carbo-loading, definitely!

We sure did not waste time to burn what we just consumed. After I claimed my passport-sized portraits, we headed off to the bank so Chammy can do her thing and I slid off to the bookstore next door (I swear, I can live inside a library and/or a bookstore happily). Got myself a Vapur foldable water container in pink and a pink case for my makeup brushes.

We decided to meet up at the department store where nothing much really happened. We just looked around, hoping to spot a good bargain and take home new things to call ours... only we both were in a tight financial situation. It's fun to window-shop, nevertheless. I was looking for the perfect red lipstick. Chammy suggested I try out Maybelline. I was never a big fan of lipsticks, especially red ones , but with the workplace situation rearing its head in the horizon, I may have to adjust my preferences in order to "grow up" and try new things. After spotting the perfect shade, I was told that they had no more stocks of that particular hue. I was devastated. And to think that its price had been slashed down from Php 299 to Php 249! Good thing, Watsons had one last tube of the Maybelline Color Sensational Moisture Extreme Lipstick in Summer Sunset! I did not hesitate and grabbed the sole tube on the shelf. It's a really deep red. I love that it's not too bright and perky, just the right shade to suit my skin color and personal preference. (I'll write a separate entry for this one too!)

That's me wearing the Maybelline lipstick in Summer Sunset. Bagay ba? :)
I have always been scared of donning red lipstick.
It's like I never had the guts to wear this truly outstanding and second-look-worthy color. 

After a long day of walking around and window-shopping, Chammy and I decided to rest and have a snack at Dunkin' Donuts, where she ate a pizza pocket (from a stall somewhere), a bavarian-filled donut (another flavor I cannot seem to agree with), and iced coffee; while I had a medium cup of Summer smoothie (forgot the flavor combination) from Fruitas.

So happy togetheeerrrr!

There's just never a dull moment with these two-peas-in-a-pod!

Stolen shoooot! :p

... and of course, there's the obligatory outfit post!

Purple top from Encore, Random leggings, TOMS sneakers,
Multi-strand bangle from Thailand, New York & Co. necklace 

What's your favorite bum-day escape? :)

Love,

SGT <3

P.S. All the photos in this entry are owned by She Goes Thrifty. Please ask for my permission when intending to use these photos elsewhere. Thank you. :)

Colorful Ash

You can express a lot of things, a lot of actions without speaking.

Catherine Daneuve 

~~
One of those ways is through fashion. It's been said that whatever outfit we decide to wear on a specific day or event, it reflects our disposition and personality. There's nothing wrong with expressing yourself, in fact it is healthy. Self-expression helps us find our place in the world, for us to be distinct from a sea of different faces and personalities. 


In my 20 years of existence, I have been through many phases in terms of dressing up. Up to now, I am still on my path to defining my personal style and finding which things suit my taste and whims. In any case, just wear what feels comfortable and natural to you. Don't be afraid to experiment and most importantly, pay no attention to the judging looks of other people. Hold your head high, walk like you're going to set fire to the sidewalk, and be yourself. You don't need to impress anyone, you just have to feel your best for YOU. Go ahead and express yourself!


Today, I felt like stirring up some color on an otherwise quiet Ash Wednesday.


I heard mass in EDSA Shrine with my mom, along with about 203591206179871 of Metro Manila's population (kidding!) and had lunch at Sushi-Ya in Robinson's Galleria. Then, we took off to shop for other necessities for my upcoming trip to Myanmar... Eventually, we got tired and ended up buying nothing much except for a few colorful belts and some organizer bags (which were on sale, and if you know me well enough, I cannot resist a good sale!). So I'll be sharing with you some of the goodies I got for this wonderful Ash Wednesday. :)

En route the bus terminal headed for Ortigas. Don't forget to wear your smile! It's your best accessory... and needless to say, it's absolutely free! :)

Here's the final verdict, as of yesterday, I am fit to work (physically and mentally!). At least that's what the doctors said. :D Getting more and more excited for Myanmar! Tee-hee!

Guys, you should really try this! It's the banana milk tea with pearls from Cha Time. Absolutely yummy!

And now for my purchases from the Robinsons Department Store Bag Sale:

Mom got a cool makeup kit for only Php 80 (~ $2)! I love its satin-y finish and I love that it has a mirror already! Perfect for on-the-go touch-ups during long-distance travel assignments for work!

A toiletries bag, so I won't have to lug bottles and tubes and stuff. They're all gonna live in one neat house. :) This one costs around Php 30 (less than $1).

This has got to be my best buy for the day! I got this baby for Php 70 (~ $2) and it's the last piece! The lady in front of me was asking the salesperson if there was another one somewhere in the pile. Sorry, miss. Finders, keepers! It's perfect for my laptop when I need to carry it in less-bulky bags for out-of-town trips.

Genevieve Gozum may have some of the tackiest clothes, but they sure have great finds as well! These belts cost us Php 50 each. (a little over $1) so my mom urged me to get many different colors!

Belts are a great way to change up your look. They're very flexible; they can go from dressy to casual, just by changing up the colors and styles. It also adds and accentuates your curves. All that and more for just Php 50?! Why not? So yes, you have my blessing! Go forth and multiply in belts!

I looove these salmon-colored bouquet earrings I got from my fave accessory shop in Quiapo. 

Feelin' a little tired from walking all around the city in heels! But hey, I still got that smile, yeah?  I figured, since it's Ash Wednesday and all, and this time of the year is when people are most serious, it's a good time to be a little whimsical and help rub off the good vibes on people who need a little pick-me-up! :)

Got this loose printed top for Php 80 (~$2) on one of my thrift shop trips with my mom in Quiapo.  It gives off such a happy and girly vibe! Paired it with a toned-down pair of jeans and my 2-year-old Le Donne wedges. 

One of those stolen shots. I'm not the best model, thankyouverymuch. Special thanks to my mom who willingly took my pictures inside her office. <3

I don't have the best feet in the world, I know! The pain is very much worth it when I wear heels because they give me that extra boost of confidence. My posture improves and I feel more put-together in them. :)

This bangle gives the outfit a boho flair. And who would think that it only costs Php 90 (a little over $2)?!

Hoot! Gotta love this baby. I have so many necklaces and this is one of my frequently-worn pieces.

How was your Ash Wednesday? :)

Love,

SGT <3