Valentine’s Day bags under US$500 + My Pre-Val shocker story part 2

So, is thebaghag really broke? *DUH* YES I’ve been broke for a loong time. It’s only now that debt caught up with me *muwahahaha!!* (Nightmare scenario: Creditors knockin’ on my door and confiscating all my bags– hello, collateral!)

Ok, here’s what really happened 🙂 I made my credit card payment last Friday afternoon via check. Apparently it didn’t get credited since it takes 3 days for the payments to clear. Good ol’ HSBC posts payments at NIGHT– or so I was told (psst HSBC reps, please confirm this– and by the way, it’s just sooo annoying to have to be charged Php 80 when you wanna make an over-the-counter cash payment!). Meanwhile my other credit card has unbilled charges that well, caused me to exceed my credit limit (DON’T ask what I bought tsk tsk). I had also made a payment last Friday and it had not yet been credited. So I had to call my bank to make an auto transfer payment to clear out the excess in credit limit. So I thought, yeah this ain’t a big deal, I can just have the bank transfer funds to my card immediately. SHEEEEYOOOT. My banker tells me, “Ma’am you only have Php 3,000 in your bank account.” I was FLOORED. WHAAAAAAAAAAT???!?!?!?!?!?!? Over the weekend, I knew I had a wee bit more than that. Where the heck did it all go? My heart nearly stopped. I was this close to puking blood! *Accusatory baghag alert!* Then I thought, maybe DH had to take cash out to buy $ and didn’t pay me *muwahaha poor DH, always suffering the brunt of my never-ending accusations* But STILL!! I was totally in panic. I asked my banker to tell me which account number it was that he got that balance from. He dictates it. The numbers were unfamiliar to me. GEEZ. As it turned out, it was my kid’s treasure saver’s account! *Muwahaha now you all know how much my kid has in the bank!!*

Soooo, at the end of the day, it all got cleared out, and WHEEE thebaghag can use both credit cards again *celebration!!!*. And to answer the question, how did I manage to pay for the Monte Carlo? Why I used my debit card of course! Thank you Ayalas for saving my bootie 😀 *muwahahaha* What a lovely Pre-Valentines’ day it had turned out to be, thanks to THEM!

Lesson learned: If you KNOW you are broke, DO NOT ATTEMPT to use your credit card or you WILL be embarrassed 😀 It happened to me *muwahaha*. I need some serious financial psychiatric help! Valentines’ Day treat from my DH perhaps? Boy, if DM finds out about this, she’d be livid and give me a serious tongue-lashing 🙂 *shhhh no one tell her , ok?*

Oh, and HOW I WISH LV would just give that to me for being such a good client *like THAT’s ever gonna happen! haha*. I am probably the very person they’d love to strike off their “VIP” list coz I don’t even give them much sales to begin with!! *muwahaha and oh how true, there are so many more deserving clients!!*

Anyway, time to turn the attention to bags that are under US$500 for the budget conscious *cough that means ME*. Anthropologie has always been one of my favorite stores for clothes and knick knacks, and although they’re not exactly cheap, they’re at least a full cut below the prices of those premier designer bags that I’ve been featuring as of late. And that’s all good!

Art and Animation tote, Bird Owl. For US$68, you can tote this canvas artwork by 60s animation guru David Weidman. It would be a perfect respite for those plain black office bags *sorry about that description, but I just find black bags for work so boring– even if it’s a birkin hahaha. Sooo biased!! But hey, that’s just me!* that you’re sorta accustomed to carrying. Let your hair down for a while and use this bag every opportunity you get. I’m telling you, your disposition in life will change as soon as you begin toting brighter, and livelier bags 🙂 Available at anthropologie.com

Fare catcher tote. It’s in bright yellow that just has to remind you of a warm and happy sunny day 🙂 *Perky perky perky!!* Now this bag I can easily carry for a weekend of fishing *muwahaha my other career*. Designer Orla Kiely made this bag extra quirky with the choice in leather– perforated! Priced at US$428.

Turnlock travel tote. Ok, so you may not be like me– sunny disposition at all times (even if I’m sick as a dog) as evidenced by all the “bright” bag choices. If you veer off to the conservative/ classic, then this bag should not pose a problem at all for you. The dove-gray leather satchel is beautiful, with the contrasting dark leather, and is also versatile with that adjustable carrying strap. Priced nicely at US$348, this is a winner.

On an accessories note, if you boys still can’t find what to get for your ladies, here’s another suggestion. D! has some real nice pieces lately that are under Php 2,000 (here, I’m giving you a good amount to work with, so don’t say it’s too expensive again, or I’ll really puke blood this time– and it won’t be a purdy sight!).

Pearl drop earrings. Yes, I had to wear these because they just lit up my face (channeling Jewelmer pearls without the price). They’re made of Swarovski pearls and crystals. Oh and did I mention these earrings were featured in a magazine cover? 😀 Priced at Php 1,250.

Crystal pastel double creolla earrings. Well, they’re not full circled creollas, but boy do they “bling”! I’m one of those who wouldn’t pay Php 100k for a pair of creolla diamond earrings simply because I won’t be using them forever (at least I don’t think I’ll be wearing them big earrings when I’m 80 years old… Don’t want my ears to fall off hahaha). So these are perfect alternatives, and hey, the effect is stunning! Priced below 2k at Php 1,950! Not bad eh? These are on my must-haves for summer!

If you are interested in those earrings, just let me know (+63916) 758-0857. Incidentally, pieces from her beautiful collection are now available at Ilaya Couture at Rockwell’s Lifestyle Section. 🙂 What can I say, the lady is famous 😀 And I’m so proud to call her a friend! *woohoo! Brag brag, name drop hahaha*

P.S. I know, I know, my hair looks real dry. I promise, I’ll get some hair treatment done as soon as I’m out of the financial red *hehehe* And yes, yes I know I already have these strange spots on my face. I was not really one of the lucky few born with porcelain/flawless skin, so there. And bah, too bad I don’t know how to put on decent makeup *what can I say, I’m low maintenance hahaha riiiiight*

HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY!!!

xx