I just got back from a very good weekend trip with my folks and DK to Hong Kong. On our last night, DK had a sudden attack of allergies in the skin– hives all over and everywhere 🙁 It was then that I realized the “roasted” food we ate at Yung Kee all sat on a plate of peanuts. And DK is allergic to peanuts 🙁 It was horrible, horrible, horrible. I stayed up all night to monitor the spreading of the allergies. Thank God no anaphylactic shock or anything. I would never have been able to forgive myself for not having asked the waiters before we ordered if they use peanut oil or if their food gets in contact with peanuts 🙁 *So peeps with very severe food allergies, make sure to ask restaurants about what oil they use also*
The next day, allergies were gone, so I was just so glad we would be able to come home without any incident. On the plane, DK’s allergies came back. Dr. Nuguid, our pediatrician whom I had spoken to just hours before *thank you Marivic for waking him up!!*, had warned me about this, that the allergies might just come back. Thank God it was just an hour + flight, and with my old friend Dennis Gaona at the helm of the plane (he’s a senior pilot for PAL now 😀 When I knew him, he was just training to become one :D), we arrived Manila safely.
DK and I went straight to Fort Med, Makati (897-9111 to 19) to get an anti- allergy shot, as recommended by Dr. Nuguid. And today, thank God, no more allergies.
So to the peeps who tweeted me/ sent me messages on my phone while the whole allergic reaction was taking place the other night (to reassure me and also to guide me and give me support), THANK YOU. Special thanks to Marivic for waking up our pediatrician, Dr. Nuguid, who was able to allay my fears and basically tell me that I’ve already done the right thing by giving the proper medication. *thank you soo much Dr. Nuguid, for accommodating my call at such an ungodly hour!!* I hardly even slept that night (ok, I napped for a good 10 minutes).
Today, I’m back in Manila 🙂 Hong Kong was still quite cool at around 22 degrees (vs. Manila’s 35), so it was quite nice to have enjoyed that “coldness” if even for just a weekend. Anyway, after the crazy food allergy episode of DK, I’m ready to talk about bags– again 😀
Let’s talk Mulberry! Let me first note that Mulberry’s an English brand that has been around for a very loooooong time. My mom would carry this very staid and old- looking bowler bag in a burgundy shade and would say to me “see I’m not like you, I don’t care for branded bags as much as you do.” Ok peeps, this one’s a classic story, so read on. Mom showed me this old burgundy bag, *over 20 years old* lifts it up and says “look at this unbranded bag. I’ve had this since you were really small, and until now, the bag looks very good still.” So I peered into her bag to check the label (me being the label whore). Guess what it was. It was a Mulberry.
*Hehehehe* I had the last laugh after all 🙂 Told mom “Umm, mom– your bag’s a Mulberry. And I hate to break this to you, but that’s a designer brand.” Gotta love my mom. She stared back at me with innocence and then said ” Hmm, that’s a designer brand? I’ve never heard of Mulberry. All I know is, I liked this bag when your father and I went to London, so I asked your dad to pay for it.” Hahahahahhahha!!!! CLASSIC!!!
So mom knows her bags but not the brands behind her bags. Goes back to what she had told me “be simple. Then everything becomes clear”. 🙂 In her simplicity, she went for bags that had quality and not branded bags that “sold” quality and status 🙂 *Ok so we’re not alike in that way coz I buy bags because they are branded, hence the term “label whore” hahaha.*
Again, Mulberry. The latest “it” bag is the Mulberry Alexa. And after I had “test-driven” the Proenza Schouler PS1, I declare the Alexa the winner between the two. 🙂
Here was Mulberry in Harrod’s
They had an oversized Alexa in black, and indigo.
Peony pink and brown leopard
But they didn’t have the Alexa I wanted– oversized Oak. (I nearly bought the peony pink oversized by the way 😀 They did have it, but I had my heart set on an oversized Oak and stood my ground despite nonstop prodding by the very kind sales associates at Harrod’s).
A block from Harrods, was the Mulberry boutique. It was there that I espied the Oversized Oak Alexa satchel (bottom shelf, in the center). I heart, heart, heart, heart.
But as these steel bars showed, the store was closed. I had to wait a day after to get my baby! 🙁
Here were the other bags by Mulberry— and they had cute flats and booties too!!
I also liked this bag. But I figured, one Mulberry was enough to whet my bag appetite for the month (and hopefully for the rest of the year)
My patience was rewarded (see, I have a little bit of EQ after all :D) when Mulberry finally opened the next day and well, this baghag got the oversized Oak Alexa– their ONLY one at the time! 🙂
And can I tell you that the Mulberry Oversized Alexa is really all that? 🙂 I’ve been using her almost everyday (hardly a scratch on her!!), so she’s getting me my money’s worth 🙂 I looove it!!!
Have a good Tuesday, everyone!!
x
Mrs. T
Mrs. T, i also wanted the Alexa although i like it in ink. I just got a mail the other day from Mulberry that it is already out of stock online!
I hope i can get one here in singapore…crossing my fingers that one of the 3 shops carries the oversized ink here.
So jealous!!! 🙂
I’ve been wanting a Bayswater for a year now!
sigh, i really want an oversized Alexa in oak too! sigh. Went to Mulberry here in singapore, they said its sold out worldwide!!! 🙁 But i am ready to *settle* for oversized alexa/bayswater in black. Hope to get one for Mother’s Day, hehehhee. 😀
I read a fiction book about a girl with peanut allergy and it was only then I realized how serious it can be. Hope your DK doesnt have much of a hard time with it…
I’ve been lusting over that Alexa bag for months already. You’re so lucky! You even got the color I want! 🙂
I’m glad that your DK is ok and over the allergic reaction. I can sort of relate because my 4-year-old son also has peanut allergy. It must’ve been really scary! Thank God it didn’t progress to anaphylaxis. And yes, reading labels and asking the waiters in restaurants about the food ingredients is a must. I think especially for the Asian/oriental places. They like using peanut oil and garnishing their food with peanuts.
Anyways, your bag is gorgeous! The indigo looks very appealing to me. Congratulations! 🙂
Ooh, love the Alexa! What made you decide on that one vs the PS1? I’m still debating between the two and am heading to London in about 3 weeks (can’t wait!) so any advice would be appreciated. 🙂
I’m dying in envy, Mrs. T! My mom and I are still on Rustan’s wait list though they said that the bags are in transit already.
P.S. Would you know if there’s an over sized Alexa in butter shade?
-MG
Mulberry bags are great! I “test-drove” their Picadilly bag (thanks to the kind S.A. at Mulberry in Harbour City) and no,I didn’t buy it. Yet. maybe like after 10 years?? The leather is quite heavy so you can be sure its durable and all plus I like the fact that (as the kind S.A. told me) the leather goes “vintage” overtime giving it character
Yup, we carry an Epi pen everywhere we go. I am a food allergy freak when I was a kid. I had allergies to chicken, shellfish, eggs, peanut–all the good stuff. I’ve outgrown almost all of them. My poor DK got the peanut allergy from me. I’m just glad he didn’t get all the other food allergies I had and hopefully he outgrows it too! 🙂
I have the Oversized Alexa in butter. I’ve only used it once. So it’s not quite ‘broken into yet.’ Michelle O
@michelle O: congratulations!! Do you love it? 🙂
@PBB: Indeed they are 🙂 Save up for one! My mom’s bag is still good as new as the day she brought it home 🙂
@MG: yes there is oversized Alexa in butter. I actually thought Rustan’s won’t be carrying the Alexa, but I guess they decided to order them 🙂
@May-Hem: Yes! I was really sooo worried and borderline panicky already but thank God no anaphylaxis. Re Chinese food, you’re right with peanuts and peanut oil. Lesson learned– the hard way. Poor dk 🙁 Oh, do you carry an EpiPen JR. too?
@A Loopy Life: I think it was because the Alexa seemed easier to open .PS1 was also nice because the exterior pocket underneath the flap is compartmentalized. In the end though , I loved the Bayswater of Mulberry and that was the deciding factor– the Alexa is partly Bayswater in the looks department 🙂
@set-set: Thank you 🙂 🙂
@kong chu: I will keep fingers crossed you can get one!! And yes, re peanut allergy, it IS very serious! People have died from it 🙁
@Lady San Pedro: Love the bayswater too– the Alexa’s a lighter version 🙂
@Aimee: Don’t lose hope!! 🙂 Positive bag wishes for you 🙂
I had been mulling the bayswater with the ink stain. But after trying the two the Alexa won out. I like that you can play with the straps 🙂 Michelle O
Your Alexa is to die for! I’d love to carry this to work. Would you happen to know if Mulberry is available in Hong Kong? Thank you! 🙂
@The Shady Chronicles of P and D Yes! Mulberry has a boutique in Hong Kong. It’s located on the first florr of Harbour City in Tsim Sha Tsui but no more Alexas already. 🙁
@Mrs. Jackie T. I better start starving myself and start saving lunch money until I graduate college so I can buy that Piccadilly.
Hi Mrs. T!
I’m looking for a good travel bag… Have been using my Muse for a while now and though it’s ok, I would prefer something lighter and roomier. I’ve been eyeing the Alexa as one of my options, but I just have one question, that I hope you could answer… Is it heavy? It kinda looks so from the pictures. I mean, compared with the Muse? Thanks! 🙂