I’m a little late to the game but here’s my Black Friday haul for this year! I don’t participate in Black Friday every year but this year I felt like I lacked a lot of staples in my closet.
Since moving to Australia, I’ve found that Black Friday isn’t too big out here. It was like this in Canada for a while until and to be honest, it only started to pick up a few years ago back at home.
But, I rarely shop in stores anymore. Instead, this year I did my Black Friday shopping on AliExpress, my favourite online shop.
So, this is going to be a different haul because I haven’t received any of the items yet… nor do I know if they’re going to match my satisfaction. But, here’s what I grabbed this year…
*Clicking into the item’s title will bring you to the page on AliExpress.
When I got my first corporate job, I felt like my wardrobe wasn’t adequate enough. I was inspired to “upgrade” my wardrobe a bit and dress a bit more fancier. I wanted items that I can pull off in the office, and outside of the office as well.
I love jeans and leggings but I feel like I want a bit more casual smart items.
With the summer coming around in Australia, I wanted a super casual t-shirt dress and stumbled across this one. I hope it looks good on me since I don’t own much gold/yellow items.
I’ve always wanted pinstripe pants! I think these will be good because they’re actually pants and not like slacks. I’m hoping to pair these off as an everyday outfit too.
This is a blazer-like cardigan that I’m pretty excited for. I hate formal blazers because they seem really stiff and heavy. I’m excited for this one, especially with the hotter weather coming soon.
I have really small feet (size 2 Youth or size 4 women) so I tend to purchase shoes online when I’m not in China. My pair of black ankle boots were finally worn down and I had to throw them out and ever since, I’ve been eyeing a new pair. I wanted something with a lower heel as to make it not super formal and hard to walk in so finding this was a steal!
Same as the one above, this is another blazer-like cardigan! I fell in love with the colour so grabbed it while it was on sale.
Lastly, I couldn’t help but get myself a Vegas Knights jacket! I’ve always wanted one but held off on it until there was a good sale. Unfortunately, being in Australia, my go-to site for VGK goods were very limited. They only had one style for a women’s jacket but it’s pretty much exactly what I wanted anyway so it all works out!
AU$ 61.50
So, what was this year’s damage?
AliExpress = $83.74 – $5 coupon = $78.74 AUD
Vegas Knights = $61.50
Total = $140.24 AUD
In my opinion, not bad of a haul! For the AliExpress items alone, that’s a fair bit of items for only $80.
My hockey jacket will be the first to arrive, and everything else should be arriving mid to late December, assuming there’s not much of a delay with Australia Post.
ToSave is an up-and-coming online retailer specializing in pretty much everything – clothes, accessories, beauty products, electronics, household items, cars accessories, etc. – at a ridiculously low price.
As someone that adores (online) shopping and loves a good discount, I couldn’t help but check out ToSave and see what their quality was like and what they had in stock. For me, fashion isn’t a big deal in my life but I still prefer getting quality goods at an affordable price, especially when I’m trying to pay off student loans and travel in the near future.
So, I grabbed a nice grey sweater, in time for the chilly Vancouver weather, and an everyday bag.
Okay, let me just start off by saying I love this sweater the moment I received it in the mail. I know that sounds extreme to say because c’mon… love? But seriously.
It arrived just in time for the cold weather to kick in. I tossed it the wash and wore it the next day. Much to my surprise, the sweater is extremely comfy and did not itch one bit. It was has a pleasant weave/braid design in the front and was true to its size. To this day, this sweater is still one of few items I wear consistently on a weekly basis.
However, given the price, you must know that it’s not 100% wool blend because otherwise, it’ll shrink in the wash. I tossed it in the washer and dryer and it didn’t shrink at all. Unfortunately, I’m not too sure what the mix of materials is but regardless, it’s easy to care for and still comfy after many washes. Since it is a mix of materials, the back of my sweater isn’t pure grey – it has bits of black scattered across the back but it’s not extremely noticeable until you examine it close up. When I wear it, it blends right in.
As you can see, tiny black patches across the back of the sweater.
But, despite this (and better on the back than the front of the sweater), I still adore this item! If you’re in need of a new sweater that’s comfy, easy on the eyes and easy to care for, ToSave definitely has some good stock!
A classic grey sweater pairs very nicely with some black jeans or getting cozy near the holiday season.
The next item I chose from ToSave is a nice everyday beige purse. I’ve been in the market for a new bag for a bit but hasn’t actively pursued anything because of the cost. I hated the idea of spending $30-50 on a bag and have it sit in the closet for some time after getting tired of using a bag (I switch from bags to backpacks throughout the year).
When I saw this bag on their site, I knew I wanted it. It was basic, trendy, unique and the ideal size for what I want in a bag. The bag was quite roomy inside with low pockets on the outside. There were two straps – a multicolour thick strap and a slightly longer, black strap. Top it off, it closed with a magnetic button. When it arrived, it was a slight overall disappointment with this bag.
To start off, it advertises as PU leather which is fine by me. I thought the material was fine, for the price that is, but it was incredibly thin. I felt extremely nervous at the thought of stuffing a lot of things into the bag thinking it may rip out of nowhere.
The multicolour strap was such a unique feature of this bag, I couldn’t help but love it. It was big, bright and of decent quality – you can definitely feel confident wearing the bag without the strap digging in your shoulders or snapping. However, the black strap was very cheap, you can tell by the look and feel of it. I definitely wouldn’t trust carrying my bag with such a flimsy strap.
Close up of the strap buckles
Another disappointing factor was the quality of the strap buckles. If the straps won’t give way first, then these buckles definitely will. I couldn’t believe these flimsy things is what holding the bag together. I understand that it’s a $10 bag so I shouldn’t be too surprised by the build quality.
Lastly, the bag also came with a little pouch. I think this is a coin purse? I wasn’t too sure because the opening was so small and thin, you couldn’t fit anything else but small coins in there… I struggled to even fit my fingers in there. This small pouch is probably the worst of the bunch – I felt that it was made from leftover materials and didn’t give much post-care to it as the zipper was sticky and threads were sticking out.
Tiny opening to this tiny pouch.
All in all, this bag looks fancy but built poorly in my opinion. I’m not into brand names so I’m not sure if this is an “original” design or a knockoff of a designer brand. It’s not to say that you can’t wear it in public, I’d still continue using it, but I think I’ll take a bit more caution in what I put in this bag. If it was damaged or lost, it’s not the end of the world.
Final thoughts on ToSave? It’s a great website to buy your clothes and accessories without breaking the bank. However, be wary of the quality – it’s sometimes a hit or miss, and don’t get too overly excited when they arrive. Don’t know what to get off of these cheap online retailers? Here are six items you should consider buying online to save some money!
Also, a lot of these products ship from China. I ordered late November, and it didn’t arrive until early January. Granted, the post office was closed for the holidays and was extremely busy but it took just a little over a month to deliver. If you’re patient, this website can be a great resource for shopping.
I would also say, don’t trust the pictures too much, as well. It’s a business – all these pictures are going to look great and high quality. I was fooled by the model and stock pictures of the bag, and sadly, the quality wasn’t as great as what they portrayed it to be. The products on the site are so cheap, you can’t even get hung up if expectations don’t meet!
Let me know if you’ve tried ToSave! What did you like or not like about it?
*Disclaimer: This post is sponsored by ToSave. ToSave has sent me these two products as compensation for a review. However, this does not affect my opinions or bias towards this brand whatsoever. I promise my readers my opinions and thoughts on these products remains honest and unbias. Interested in working with me? Get in contact with me here!
Despite working in the gym and actively staying fit, I’m not in the Lululemon Club. In fact, I probably would never join that club.
Working out can be expensive. Luckily, working at the gym gives me free gym access but I understand the high cost of a gym membership. So, why should our workout gear be expensive as well?
I’m all about saving money on things I can save and clothes is definitely a big thing I can save on. I’m not big on brand names – as long as it does its thing at an affordable price, you’ve got me!
Sometimes, I feel clothes can influence your workout. For example, I would feel intimidated wearing all Nike gear. I feel as though Nike is the number one brand people think of when they think about workout clothes. Because I’m not training intensely or training professionally, I like my workout stuff to be more casual and “fun”.
Here are a few of my favourite active wear brands at a price where it wouldn’t break your bank 😉
Ardene is a popular teen store in Canada. Known for mostly having accessories, Ardene also carries clothing as well, including active wear. Both of my sports bra are from Ardene and they’re extremely affordable. They’re extremely comfortable and already padded (which is a must for me when I shop for sports bra). On top of a few sports bra from Ardene, I also enjoy their relaxed tees and hoodies. Ardene has a perfect mix of casual cute active wear and also something a bit more “professional” looking to say.
Old Navy is so underrated when it comes to active wear. I absolutely LOVE their active wear section. If you’re asking me, Old Navy would be my first go-to place when I’m in search of new workout gears. When it comes to workout bottoms, I like my pants to be just a bit thicker to hide any underwear lines – I sometimes wear normal cotton underwear to the gym which is not seamless in any other active wear pants BUT Old Navy’s (and sometimes I wear seamless). I spent a lot of time looking for the perfect pants to match my criteria and finally found it in Old Navy. A lot of my work out tops are from Old Navy as well. Old Navy carries both fun and vibrant styles to plain black.
I feel like the sportswear in H&M is new… is it? Anyways, I got one pair of pants from H&M Sports and while it looks AMAZING on me (LOL), I feel it’s more of a pair of leggings than actual active wear. I’ve only worn it once to the gym and I felt extremely awkward in it. Now, I recommend H&M Sports for those looking for more of a “serious” look while working out. This sportswear line is much more basic and toned down from the previous brands mentioned above. On top of it, most of their materials are made with spandex and they offer little to few cotton/similar items.
If you can make it through the mess of Forever 21, then you’ll be greeted with cute, bright and vibrant workout gear. Forever 21 has the most options available when it comes to affordable workout gear. I normally enjoy their jackets, shorts, and workout tops. Forever 21 is a great place for fashionistas looking to stand out in the gym.
5. Winners
I know this isn’t a brand but I love shopping at Winners when my favourite stores fail me. Winners offers brand new items at discounted (up to 60% off) prices. For those seeking to avoid these casual brands and want Adidas or Nike should check our Winners. They have Nike gear from $20! While it’s affordable, like I mentioned above, Nike as a brand intimidates me!
So, for all those feeling unmotivated to hit the gym, check our these stores at your local mall! Purchasing new workout gear tends to motivate a lot of people! And, don’t be afraid to strut in there with style! Many of my co workers are decked out in brand name workout gear but these “no name” brands does just as well!
As every Vancouvrite knows, heading down the States means a day of shopping for cheap and exclusive goods!
On Wednesday, my friend, Dee, and I went down to Bellingham via Greyhound for a day of shopping!
I haven’t ridden on the Greyhound since the 8th grade and it was to Seattle with my mum. This time around, we chose to do the Greyhound because none of us drive. It’s also my first time traveling with Dee out of the city.
I woke up at 6:15AM and left the house at around 7:15AM. The greyhound bus departs at 8:35AM. Dee woke up at 7AM… surprisingly she got to the station on time but left all her American money at home so I had to cover for until the local currency exchanges opened up.
I completely forgot that Dee was an inexperienced traveler. That being said, she asked a lot of questions (paranoid questions) about border crossing. She even brought along her purse that was filled with combs, make-up, cable and chargers… and while it’s nice to have those, I felt like it was a waste of space in her bag. We’re leaving the city for a day – pack lighter so you’ll be more comfortable!! Her bag looked as though it was about to explode!
The bus ride to Bellingham was relatively short. We arrived at the Greyhound station to realize that we were in the middle of nowhere. Literally, there was no one around, no one walking, not even cars moving. I’ve never been to this part of Bellingham! I mean, all the times I’ve been to Bellingham was by car.
We eventually took a random bus to Downtown where the bus driver was kind enough to tell us which buses to take to where. Our first stop was Goodwills (because we’ve heard so many good things about it!) at Sunset Square. First of all, I didn’t know Bellingham buses did not dispense any tickets aka proof of payment. I also didn’t know buses were THAT small. Also, they don’t even have an automated announcer for all the stops! The bus driver has to shout them out and most of them didn’t bother with EVERY stop.
Oh my lord, thank goodness we encountered our bus driver! He was extremely helpful in getting us to Sunset Square. We also told him that we wanted to go to Bellis Fair later and he said it’s the exact bus, and just come back to this stop. I love helpful drivers!
When we got into Sunset Square and into Goodwills… we were a bit disappointed. I did NOT find anything that was worth purchasing. I’ve seen millions of Goodwills hauls online and thought I’d have better luck here than back at home… but nonetheless, I think Value Village was better for me. The prices were only a SLIGHT cheaper than VV.
We later went to K-Mart which I found out was just another Target-like store. I only purchased two more bags of Spicy Cheetos and a bustier top from Nicki Minaj’s line (ewww). The cashier we had was extremely hilarious though!
We then trekked our back to the bus stop to see the same bus driver again. He kindly allowed us to “finish our ride” to Bellis Fair… aka we didn’t have to pay for that bus ride!
When we got to the last stop, the driver asks, “Are you guys from Canada? Because I’ve never seen you around before and you guys look completely lost!”
And then I realized… holy crap, Bellingham must be a pretty small place if this bus driver says he has never seen us before. I also looked at the map and realized there only one public high school, and one private Catholic school. I also noticed that a lot of people on the bus seem to just know each other, and same with the kids. I love a small town but perhaps… maybe not that small?
In Bellis Fair, we hit almost every store! I love WetSeal and Charlotte Rousse, and Rue 21! The Forever 21 and H&M were lacking… like surprisingly, we had bigger stores than them which also meant more items, and the prices weren’t that cheaper than Canada. We also hit Target and Kohl’s!
Target’s Up&Up facial scrub; ELF’s eyelid primer, eyeliner and total face brush; Claire’s earring set; Make up remover cloths from Goodwills; Rimmel London Stay Matte Foundation’ Goody’s bobby pins.
Decided to start working out!
During our time at the mall, we also went to get massages: both from a massage parlor and the massage chairs in the mall… ugh, how I would love to go back for another massage!
On the way back, it was even worst! A few people had to get interrogated at the border so our bus got delayed… and this French couple beside us kept on making out on the bus… nasty.
Nonetheless, I loved everything I got and managed to keep my shopping trip under $100 USD! My cousin thought that was waaaaay too less to spend in the states but I personally felt happy, haha.
I think I might go back there sometime in August for the back to school and summer ending sales!
Seriously, who does not enjoy receiving mail? Even if it’s my credit card statements, I still love getting mail! This morning, I was greeted by three packages from my latest eBay purchases! I’m actually surprised how all three (different sellers) arrived at the same day – eBay shipments (from China) never happens like that!
Remember the blue shirt that I thought I’d loooove?! Well… let’s downgrade that ‘love’ to ‘like’. First initial thought was – I don’t remember this being a long sleeved shirt. I was pretty upset so I sent a message the eBay seller and asked for a refund because the shirt didn’t match the description. She apologized and gave me a refund. On top of the shirt not matching the description, the embellishments were a bit loose and there were loose threads hanging everywhere.
However, when I threw it into the laundry basket to have it washed, I reexamined the shirt again and found out that there’s a little fabric that hooks onto the beads on around the elbow – just like the photos in the description! I thought… holy crap, I’m stupid. I pretty much complained about a top that was NEVER wrong to begin with! Sooo… essentially, I got this top for free!
Yesssssssssssss, my infamous kitty bag finally came in! It’s exactly what the description said, and the quality (the one thing that I worried about) is AMAZING! I’m happy about the size, the quality, and the detailing! I honestly can’t wait to start using this for school!
Finally, I got myself a metal tongue bar. The ball didn’t screw on properly so I eventually asked for a refund. I think I’m just going to buy another one from a jewelry store in the mall.
And, finally, to end Tuesday, I actually ended up dropping off everything (and I mean EVERYTHING) that The Boy ever given me. All the gifts, movie stubs, everything.
So, it was a bittersweet Tuesday; I got my new items and I ended up giving up and getting rid of everything from The Boy.
It’s well past the start of Spring, but I finally got around to cleaning out my closet. I would like to say I don’t have much of an attachment to clothes, but I found myself giving items “another chance”. Eventually, I nailed it down and gotten rid of things I don’t even know why I even have or purchased.
The horrors of my closet:
Donation Pile
I got this top from a thrift store for about $7. The first thought I had was… wow, great clubbing top! But man, those embellishments are annoying as hell! They’re uncomfortable when my arms are touching the top, they’re uncomfortable when they accidentally tug on a thread, etc. etc. I guess I was picturing a ’70s clubbing vibe when I purchased this shirt. Didn’t even worn it out to any parties because it was just so annoying. I mean, I think I look good in it but it’s just too annoying for me to wear out for several hours.
Keeping It Pile
This floral button up shirt is from H&M, and my aunt got it for me back in China and sent it over. I think I’ve worn it just once but when I tried it on again, I sort of liked it… I don’t know why I decided to keep it since I’ve only worn it once, but I think it’s probably due to the colours and the fact that I lack conservative clothes for professional events/workplaces.
Keeping It Pile
My initial thoughts were to donate this item. I’ve had it for a while, perhaps since 9th or 10th grade? I haven’t worn it since high school. Back then, I’ll wear it with a grey tank top underneath but since I decided to try it with nothing underneath and just buttoned it up, I thought this could work out.
Donation Pile
If you remember this gem, you’re golden! I can’t believe I still have this in my closet. I remember seeing this top in a thrift store and thought “Holy crap, this top is old…” but yet, I still have one in my closet. I knew instantly to donate it. It fits wonder, slightly tighter than before, but the thought of wearing it made me feel extremely old and cheap.
Donation Pile
I got this top from ESPIRT in China. I was indifferent about it, but the store mannequin paired the blazer with this top which is why I ended up buying this top… does anyone else do that? Buy one piece but then see a mannequin pairing your loved item with another one and it looks so good you buy the paired item too? Anyways, I’ve worn it a few times overseas but since coming back to Canada with it, it hasn’t left my closet. Whenever I wear it, I also look and feel pregnant.
Keeping It Pile
I have only worn this once or twice since purchasing it back in 2011…! I love Hello Kitty and the only reason why I picked this HK top was to match the $60 min. for free shipping from F21. I decided to keep it because I love HK but also because I just don’t know how to feel about this top yet. It’s baggy, slightly comfy, and yeah, I don’t know what else to say about it. I thought it could be a “fashion” top, but it turns out to just be a very lightweight pullover sweater. I can myself just throwing this on top of a tank top or bikini top when the sun goes down in the summer.
Donation Pile
Thank God that I did not purchase this top. Have you seen this top before? This is the type of fashionable top that is fashionable in… China (and nowhere else, people)! My aunt (like always) bought this top in both black (pictured above) and purple. They claimed it’s from an actual Chanel top but… let’s be real. I donated the purple one years ago and decided to give the black one a second try, but I just never wore it out. I’d feel embarrassed wearing a top like this out knowing it’s fake and really flashy.
Donation Pile
I remember thrifting this too for about $5. I purchased it because I needed more sweaters and while I do love the fit and there’s nothing wrong with it, I just fell out of love with this top. I’ve only worn it once since purchasing it back in 2013.
Keeping it Pile
I have only worn this once since 2011 and the one time I wore it, I felt like a boy. Like the HK top, I remember grabbing this because I needed at least $60 for free shipping. I wanted to throw it away because of that sole feeling of it making me feel like a boy. But when I tried it on again… I sort of liked it. It comes with a lightweight hood which I’m not a fan of but overall, I like the top. I’ll give it a second go.
Keeping It Pile
I got this back in China and it was one of the rare shirts that had correct English (praise the designer that went to school!). I wore it constantly back in China but since bringing it back to Canada, I haven’t worn it since. I like it, it’s lightweight, cute and really spring/summer like. I decided to keep it for a second chance and if I don’t wear it this year, I’ll be sure to get rid of it come next spring.
Keeping It Pile
Another case of picking it solely for the purpose of free shipping. When I first saw this on the website, I instantly pictured myself throwing this on top of my bikini on the beach. I wore this out once (not as a bikini cover up) and felt okay about it. It’s like a poncho, pretty much, so if I keep my arms down, it’ll look alright but once I raise my arm up… gahhhh, it looks horrible. I decided to keep it because I didn’t give it any chance when I bought it.
And so, I managed to get rid of 10 items (some not pictured) in this year’s closet cleanout. My dad just got back from vacation and he purchased a shit ton of new clothes for me so hopefully they match my taste!
I ended up keeping 6 of the original items I was considering donating. Not bad, considering I’ve only got 6 items to “try to love again”. Looking back at some of the stuff I’m donating makes me feel like I wasted money or clothes I’ve pictured myself in, but never wore it. That should be a new shopping wake up call!
This year in Vancouver, we’re lucky. This Spring has been much much much warmer than usual and not that many rainfalls. For once, I can wear my leather jacket without a hoodie and still keep warm (did I mention not even zipped up?!). Today, I decided to just wear a light spring floral scarf and by the end of the day, I was sweating.
I’m loving the warmer weather, especially after freezing my butt off for the past few months!
In no particular order, here’s what I wore for the past couple of days: *Excuse the dirty mirror – I swear I’ll get around to cleaning it this weekend!
This cute kitty cat shirt is actually part of The Weeknd‘s Kissland Tour (2013) merchandise. I was lucky enough to grab the last Small in this… and let me tell you something about artist merchandises – their sizes are HUGE. I guess it’s because they print them on male shirts but nonetheless, small is still rather big for me so I prefer to pair it with leggings.
Okay, so… I forgot to take a picture of the actual outfit. But, from the little bits in the corner, I was wearing a pink hoodie on top of my Canucks shirt. I paired it up with leggings and flats… does anyone else wear flats with flats socks?! I think it’s disgusting to not wear socks with flats… I mean, you swear socks with boots/runners/etc so why not with flats?
I had my first “professional” job fair – you know, for an actual career rather than just a regular part time job. I had to look professional so I opted for business casual – blazer, dress top, and skinny pants. Yes, you will never catch me with flare pants or whatever. Just no. Skinny or it ain’t happening.
(Which reminds me, I really need to update my closet to have more business (casual) attire).
This is my most recent one. I don’t have much to say about this look aside from I think it looks a bit preppy. Did I mention I got those jeans for $10 and the top for $5-7? It’s a bargain outfit!
Since the warmer weather is here, I’ve been wearing a lot of leggings/stockings and no more layering with hoodies.
