Welcome to my Closet.
I was sure by now
God You would have reached down
And wiped our tears away
Stepped in and saved the day
But once again, I say "Amen"
and it's still raining
As the thunder rolls
I barely hear You whisper through the rain
"I'm with you"
And as Your mercy falls
I raise my hands and praise the God
Who gives and takes away
I heard this song on Becca's site and was really touched by the lyrics. Many times throughout life I've always expected God to alleviate me from whatever is troubling me at the time. But this song reminds me that sometimes instead of taking the burden away, He makes us go through it. We pray 'God take this away please please please' and He says in return "Nuh uh. I'm going to show you how strong you can be through Me." So will we stay or will we run from Him telling ourselves that He lied to us. I think this is where many Christian friends that I've known have fallen believing that God had abandoned or held out on them. It also reminds me that though God is the Giver and blesses us with an abundant life, a loving family, a large closet, a beautiful house with a well stocked fridge and a great group of friends yet in giving these things to us, we are reminded that He can also take all these things away. It's a great humility check.
I like being myself. For the longest time I've been in denial of self interest but now I've been riddling my posts with fashion-related topics. When the Toronto Star fashion section came out every Thursday I used to wait until no one was looking and then sneaked it into my room and hid it under my bed and read it behind closed doors. I'd cut out the articles or pictures I liked and then tucked it into the recycling bin in the garage so my parents wouldn't notice. I guess that's why I'm so defensive about it now. I've come out the closet. HAHAHA. No pun intended. ;)
If you're into trends and fashion then the best place to go to is not a mall where they rip you off for some polyester garb from China and charge you $50 (ahem Le Chateau!). The place to go is Value Village. Why?
1) Fashion is recycled and so are Value Village clothes- you can get a ton of vintage stuff there that is considered 'in' now for a tiny fraction of the price you'd get at American Eagle etc.
2) It's cheaper than vintage stores. The only difference between vintage and thrift is that vintage is pricy but placed nicely. Thrift requires more of a hunt but if you're patient, you can find great stuff.
3) The stuff is unique. There's only one of each. So you will be too. ;)
4) It promotes recycling (environment) and charity (they buy stuff and donate money to and from non profity/charity organizations). Value Village is a great example of a FOR-profit organization that gives to charity and recycles.
Today was the last day for the Value Village sale (buy 5 items, get the 6th free. buy 10 get 3 items free, etc) so I went on this rainy day and spent the equivalent amount of time I would spend at a typical mall: 2-2.5 hours. There were tons of shoppers there. To shop at a thrift store you must learn the tactics and methods of getting all the good merch before another rival does (yes it's a race). Tips:
1) Always look at the ends of the aisles where shoppers hang clothes that they had picked out earlier and decided not to keep.
2) Follow the salesclerks like wolves as they roll out the new merch (many people search through the racks while the clerk is busy down in the aisle sorting the clothes.
3) If you see something you like, take it for now. Or else someone may take it. You can always decide to leave it later.
4) If you loiter long enough in the store like I do, constantly revisit specific sections like belts and bags because they always put new stuff in when you're not looking.
5) Knowing your labels is really helpful. I can testify to that. Then again if you're not a label whore like I can be at times, it wouldn't really matter. But it's worth it.
I ended up getting five items $33.52 and got the sixth item free. The beauty in all this is that everything I purchased was designer save one. The great thing about many Canadians in the suburbs is either they don't really know labels. My mom said that wasn't true- she thinks that people just died and their relatives sent everything to Value Village. Hahaha...
Well of course there is a risk that the stuff I got was fake and I am against purchasing fakes but there is a high chance that the merch is genuine unbeknownst to a generous donator (this shopper personally thanks you for your ignorance). But there were some amazing finds today and I couldn't resist: a Moschino leather backpack for $9.99? A Gianni Versace case purse for $5.99? A costume jewelry Dior brooch for $3.99 (pretty sure it's real- it's got Christian Dior R. stamped on the back in miniscule writing and after examining Tania's mom's jewelry- I think it's genuine)? I know two items are authentic though. I was browsing the shoes (I will wear people's shoes which my mom thinks is a little gross) and a pair of glossy cherry red patent shoes (the image above) caught my eye. The gold buckle in the middle was inscribed with one word: Ferragamo.
SALVATORE FERRAGAMO??? And sure enough on the sole it reads in gold 'boutique Salvatore Ferragamo. Made in Italy'. They were size 7.5 but I could squeeze my feet in- I just couldn't walk comfortably. Lol. I bought them anyway for $7.99. I was going to make them bookends or nail them to a piece of wood and make it into a coat hanger. The only non designer item I got was a thin glossy black belt which came from Eatons when it was still in business long long time ago for $5.99. And my free item? Another belt. I actually was sifting through all of them when this particular one reminded me of one I saw on Ebay which I liked the look of (it's suede with plastic ends and gold buckle). I picked it up and examined it closely. I wish I could have seen my bulging eye expression because on the strap it said in tiny gold lettering 'YSL' and on the back of the belt 'Yves Saint Laurent. Made in France'. FREAK and for $2.99! So I got a designer belt for free. Score!
In all practicality sense the shoes weren't a wise choice but when I got home my mom complained that she used to own all this kind of stuff and I accused her that I wouldn't have bought some of the stuff if she saved it for me (she donates everything she hasnt worn over a year so her closet is really small while I save almost everything because fashion concepts are always reused. Yay I like my walk-in closet. I treat it as a luxury. Because my closet is next to my parent's bathroom and protrudes outward, their shower is TINY- you can't move in it. Hheheh). Anyway my mom slipped the shoes on and it was slightly too big for her but fit her very well. So now she's going to wear them but she thinks they're too fancy. Yay. So the shoes, in the end, were a good buy. Good job Sam. Now Ms Moschino, Ms Versace, Mr Ferragamo, Mr Dior and Mr Saint Laurent reside in your closet for a few dollars.
I'll miss Value Village when I go back to New York.
I just saw the coolest Do It Yourself (DIY) dress on Canada's Next Top Model. The Asian chick, Sisi, took her dad's enormous bright yellow polo and wrapped it around her seamlessly (I wonder how she did that) and cinched it on the waist with a beige belt. It looked so great and the judges commented on it. She almost got kicked off the show though. :S The girl who did get kicked out actually had the nerve to say that "Canada's Next Top Model should be someone who was born in Canada. She's (Sisi) not even born in Canada." Ouch. I really want her to win- yes I admit because of her ethnicity. But it's only natural isn't it? If the Anglo beauty is imposed on us (yes it is- my grandparents came back from HK with the China Vogue and there was a white girl on the cover and all the editorials are done with Caucasians for an Asian market, magazine and target. That makes no sense). I should start learning some Mandarin if I ever have to do business in China.
Today is July 12: two months of holiday have gone. AHHHHHH.
It's official. I'm leaving on August 31st at 4:15. :( I'm afraid.
God You would have reached down
And wiped our tears away
Stepped in and saved the day
But once again, I say "Amen"
and it's still raining
As the thunder rolls
I barely hear You whisper through the rain
"I'm with you"
And as Your mercy falls
I raise my hands and praise the God
Who gives and takes away
I heard this song on Becca's site and was really touched by the lyrics. Many times throughout life I've always expected God to alleviate me from whatever is troubling me at the time. But this song reminds me that sometimes instead of taking the burden away, He makes us go through it. We pray 'God take this away please please please' and He says in return "Nuh uh. I'm going to show you how strong you can be through Me." So will we stay or will we run from Him telling ourselves that He lied to us. I think this is where many Christian friends that I've known have fallen believing that God had abandoned or held out on them. It also reminds me that though God is the Giver and blesses us with an abundant life, a loving family, a large closet, a beautiful house with a well stocked fridge and a great group of friends yet in giving these things to us, we are reminded that He can also take all these things away. It's a great humility check.
I like being myself. For the longest time I've been in denial of self interest but now I've been riddling my posts with fashion-related topics. When the Toronto Star fashion section came out every Thursday I used to wait until no one was looking and then sneaked it into my room and hid it under my bed and read it behind closed doors. I'd cut out the articles or pictures I liked and then tucked it into the recycling bin in the garage so my parents wouldn't notice. I guess that's why I'm so defensive about it now. I've come out the closet. HAHAHA. No pun intended. ;)
If you're into trends and fashion then the best place to go to is not a mall where they rip you off for some polyester garb from China and charge you $50 (ahem Le Chateau!). The place to go is Value Village. Why?
1) Fashion is recycled and so are Value Village clothes- you can get a ton of vintage stuff there that is considered 'in' now for a tiny fraction of the price you'd get at American Eagle etc.
2) It's cheaper than vintage stores. The only difference between vintage and thrift is that vintage is pricy but placed nicely. Thrift requires more of a hunt but if you're patient, you can find great stuff.
3) The stuff is unique. There's only one of each. So you will be too. ;)
4) It promotes recycling (environment) and charity (they buy stuff and donate money to and from non profity/charity organizations). Value Village is a great example of a FOR-profit organization that gives to charity and recycles.
Today was the last day for the Value Village sale (buy 5 items, get the 6th free. buy 10 get 3 items free, etc) so I went on this rainy day and spent the equivalent amount of time I would spend at a typical mall: 2-2.5 hours. There were tons of shoppers there. To shop at a thrift store you must learn the tactics and methods of getting all the good merch before another rival does (yes it's a race). Tips:
1) Always look at the ends of the aisles where shoppers hang clothes that they had picked out earlier and decided not to keep.
2) Follow the salesclerks like wolves as they roll out the new merch (many people search through the racks while the clerk is busy down in the aisle sorting the clothes.
3) If you see something you like, take it for now. Or else someone may take it. You can always decide to leave it later.
4) If you loiter long enough in the store like I do, constantly revisit specific sections like belts and bags because they always put new stuff in when you're not looking.
5) Knowing your labels is really helpful. I can testify to that. Then again if you're not a label whore like I can be at times, it wouldn't really matter. But it's worth it.
I ended up getting five items $33.52 and got the sixth item free. The beauty in all this is that everything I purchased was designer save one. The great thing about many Canadians in the suburbs is either they don't really know labels. My mom said that wasn't true- she thinks that people just died and their relatives sent everything to Value Village. Hahaha...
Well of course there is a risk that the stuff I got was fake and I am against purchasing fakes but there is a high chance that the merch is genuine unbeknownst to a generous donator (this shopper personally thanks you for your ignorance). But there were some amazing finds today and I couldn't resist: a Moschino leather backpack for $9.99? A Gianni Versace case purse for $5.99? A costume jewelry Dior brooch for $3.99 (pretty sure it's real- it's got Christian Dior R. stamped on the back in miniscule writing and after examining Tania's mom's jewelry- I think it's genuine)? I know two items are authentic though. I was browsing the shoes (I will wear people's shoes which my mom thinks is a little gross) and a pair of glossy cherry red patent shoes (the image above) caught my eye. The gold buckle in the middle was inscribed with one word: Ferragamo.
SALVATORE FERRAGAMO??? And sure enough on the sole it reads in gold 'boutique Salvatore Ferragamo. Made in Italy'. They were size 7.5 but I could squeeze my feet in- I just couldn't walk comfortably. Lol. I bought them anyway for $7.99. I was going to make them bookends or nail them to a piece of wood and make it into a coat hanger. The only non designer item I got was a thin glossy black belt which came from Eatons when it was still in business long long time ago for $5.99. And my free item? Another belt. I actually was sifting through all of them when this particular one reminded me of one I saw on Ebay which I liked the look of (it's suede with plastic ends and gold buckle). I picked it up and examined it closely. I wish I could have seen my bulging eye expression because on the strap it said in tiny gold lettering 'YSL' and on the back of the belt 'Yves Saint Laurent. Made in France'. FREAK and for $2.99! So I got a designer belt for free. Score!
In all practicality sense the shoes weren't a wise choice but when I got home my mom complained that she used to own all this kind of stuff and I accused her that I wouldn't have bought some of the stuff if she saved it for me (she donates everything she hasnt worn over a year so her closet is really small while I save almost everything because fashion concepts are always reused. Yay I like my walk-in closet. I treat it as a luxury. Because my closet is next to my parent's bathroom and protrudes outward, their shower is TINY- you can't move in it. Hheheh). Anyway my mom slipped the shoes on and it was slightly too big for her but fit her very well. So now she's going to wear them but she thinks they're too fancy. Yay. So the shoes, in the end, were a good buy. Good job Sam. Now Ms Moschino, Ms Versace, Mr Ferragamo, Mr Dior and Mr Saint Laurent reside in your closet for a few dollars.
I'll miss Value Village when I go back to New York.
I just saw the coolest Do It Yourself (DIY) dress on Canada's Next Top Model. The Asian chick, Sisi, took her dad's enormous bright yellow polo and wrapped it around her seamlessly (I wonder how she did that) and cinched it on the waist with a beige belt. It looked so great and the judges commented on it. She almost got kicked off the show though. :S The girl who did get kicked out actually had the nerve to say that "Canada's Next Top Model should be someone who was born in Canada. She's (Sisi) not even born in Canada." Ouch. I really want her to win- yes I admit because of her ethnicity. But it's only natural isn't it? If the Anglo beauty is imposed on us (yes it is- my grandparents came back from HK with the China Vogue and there was a white girl on the cover and all the editorials are done with Caucasians for an Asian market, magazine and target. That makes no sense). I should start learning some Mandarin if I ever have to do business in China.
Today is July 12: two months of holiday have gone. AHHHHHH.
It's official. I'm leaving on August 31st at 4:15. :( I'm afraid.
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