The Bag Connoisseur 2.0

Eenie Meenie Miney Mo!

noreply@blogger.com (Emm) — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 17:10:00 +0000

Hi darlings,

Happy New Year!

So, have you decided which bag will kick off your 2012 bag journey, yet? I may need some help.

Remember when I was looking for a bag to tote all of Baby #1's stuff to Bris? Back then it was between the LV Neverfull and the St. Louis Goyard. As you know, the Goyard is not available locally and because I was in a hurry back then, I ended up with the Neverfull which proved true to its name but became the LV bag that EVERYBODY has. T_T.

I love my Neverfull (so does everybody else, by the looks of it). But if you're looking for a pop of colour in a bag that is the exact same shape and size as a Neverfull, the answer is the St. Louis Goyard. And guess what? It is available in a gorgeous bright orange from here and it comes with a matching pochette! I would so get it if I could sell my Neverfull. But being a true Leo, I just had to have the NF stamped with my initials, didn't I? Take a lesson girls - only personalise bags that you know you'll want to keep forever. (Anybody out there with the initials MZ wanna buy a barely used LV NF? :p)

~pic taken from theuglycloset.blogspot.com~

Theuglycloset.blogspot.com has this up for sale too. I'm not big on LV but the shape of this bag has got me pining for it. It's just too cute. Kind of like the speedy but with longer handles, perfect as a shoulder bag (which leaves hands free to juggle a baby and help a pre-schooler with his shoes).

~pic borrowed from theuglycloset.blogspot.com~

~pic taken from purseforum.com~

This is the LV Rivington PM, sister to the Cabas Rivington which is a tote with similar handles.
Should I start 2012 with these two? Or will you guys beat me to it?

xoxo,
Emm

Use it or Lose it!

noreply@blogger.com (Elly) — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 16:04:00 +0000

Hey y'all...

It's me... Elly... yeah, the co-owner of this blog. Won't hold it against you if you forgot all about moi considering I last blogged waaaaaaaaayyyy back in April. *buries head in shame*

So... you may have noticed that my YSL Besace literally turned into a toad, as updated by Malin. However, I'm happy to report I spent a good two hours yesterday returning the Besace to its former glory. The results were spectacular and you wouldn't at all have known it was afflicted by a bad case of mould. I'll share what I did in another post. Promise.

Not only had I to endure the pain of watching one of my "babies" falling sick like that, but I just had to be constantly reminded by the Husband that "I'd better use it OR lose it...". Rotating handbags on a weekly basis clearly doesn't work in our climate, so what is a bagaholic to do? Care to share your tips?

Most of my bags have a high probability of getting mouldy, unused, there is however one bag that is is aired on a weekly basis, every single weekend.

Introducing MBMJ's Natasha Petal to the Metal. I loveeee mine to bits, which is I dare say practically stylish albeit being a sombre black? The metal bits bring out the rock chick in me. Ehem.

You can wear it on your shoulder or cross-bodied. Careful. You might get lost in its multitude of zipped compartments, but you OCD anal retentives out there would just love to remain organized that way, right? Oh wait. That's me :)

I purchased mine from Reebonz, Singapore. They only had black back then, not sure now. A quick look over at Net-a-Porter reveals other colours. Love, love, love the one in plum. Alas, a new bag would mean that my other bags would be more susceptible to mould. Argh!

Marc by Marc Jacobs Natasha Petal to the Metal shoulder bag: russet leather, shoulder strap, internal zip-fastening and pouch pockets, designer-stamped bird plaques with leather tabs, three zip-fastening pockets at flap top and front with oversized designer-stamped zips, front pocket with magnetic-fastening flap, back magnetic-fastening pocket with buckled leather tab detail, gold hardware, fully lined. Leather: Cow. Pictures and description via http://www.net-a-porter.com

Love you guys. To a blessed new year and many, many more bags to come!

Elly

Miss You Much...

noreply@blogger.com (Emm) — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 15:15:00 +0000

Duh!

I was taking a stroll around Suria KLCC today whilst the boys were watching the latest Mission Impossible flick and bumped into a whole host of lovely handbags. Aaaaah.... what a sight for sore eyes. You can't beat Kay Elle for the most LVs and Chanels per square meter, can you? I suddenly felt pangs of emotion and started missing my babies who are most probably on a ship right this minute, on their way home. I was wondering if I'm just demented like that or do you guys suffer from the same separation anxiety when you are away for long periods of time from your handbags. Over taww! *montah*

Of course, it didn't help when Elly sent a picture of her Besace which she found covered in mold and looking like a toad, today. Am suddenly very worried about the fate of my babies sailing on the open sea. +_+

Elly's Besace: If you kiss it, it might turn into a handsome prince :p

Hope you all had a wonderful Christmas. Happy holidays!!

Emm
xoxo

I'm coming home, coming home...

noreply@blogger.com (Emm) — Sun, 11 Dec 2011 06:10:00 +0000

So, guess what? We're finally leaving the land of where bags-tak-boleh-carik-makan for good. Hubs is being transferred home and therein marks the end of our stay here. Two and a half years... time flies so bloody fast when you are constantly clicking "add to cart" and Paypal is your bestfriend. I think it's about time I trade in my cramped index finger for sore feet instead, by having to shop the conventional way.

Gawd, I was in such a fix the other day when Hubs asked about how much insurance we needed to take for all the stuff we were shipping home. For the first time ever, I had to declare the value of my bag collection to him. It. Was. Not. Pretty. Now I know what "terkulat-kulat" means.

I'm trying to figure out which would be best. To ship my (bag)babies home via sea or have them fly home with me. Should they perish a tragic death not unlike Jack and Rose on The Titanic, I could use the insurance money to buy new bags, right? *scheming hat: on*. However, many of them were limited editions and not in production anymore. So maybe I should pack those into the luggage with me. But there are also a couple of them with special sentimental value. Aaargh how does one deal with favouritism amongst their children??

Fast forward to packing day...

All my bags are packed (literally) and I'm ready to go... See u guys back in good ol'Kay Elle!! (am so glad I'm a Pack Rat/Hoarder and kept all my net-a-porter and reebonz boxes!)

Baby, baby, baby...ohhhh!

noreply@blogger.com (Emm) — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 03:14:00 +0000

So I had a(nother) baby. This time around, it wasn't the frantic shopping spree it was the first time around. Once you've had one baby, you sort of know what you might need and need not. Or so I thought.

Girlfriends asked if I wanted a baby bag to which I told them that I didn't and was planning to stuff everything into my bright orange nylon Tessuto Prada.

Smells a tad funny, these days.

Must've been that trip to the Roo Park.

But then, when it came time to take MissyMoo to the paediatrician for her checkup, I realised that I didn't want to chuck all her freshly washed, sweet baby-smelling rompers and teeny socks into my everything's-been-in-there bag (ok, excuses excuses!) so I started surfing the net for a suitable baby bag.

I've always been curious about net-a-porter but have yet had a chance to purchase anything from it. Til now, that is. Thanks to an insightful discussion on Google+, I clicked and paid for this a couple of days ago and not 3 days later, it's in my hands!! Wooooozaahhhhh!

The Perfect Baby Bag! (pic taken from net-a-porter.com)

To be honest, I've never met a baby bag that I've really really liked. They either look too cekai or too makcik (hence the reluctance to get one this time around). Most baby bags are messenger-shaped and too structured making it stiff and cumbersome to carry around plus won't hold as much as you'd like it to. This one however, is pliable (nylon) and lightweight and huge enough that I'm thinking I can do away with having to carry a separate handbag.

Now, if only I looked like this. (pic taken from net-a-porter.com)

This bag is also available in a solid hot chilli red from net-a-porter but as I was browsing through saksfifthavenue.com I found this dazzling snake print with lime green insides (oh, the heartbreak!).

Animal prints should stay on bags and shoes ONLY. (pic from saksfifthavenue.com)

So, if you're looking for a baby bag, or simply a bag to fill your whole life in, I'd recommend this!

xoxo,
Emm.

So close yet so far

noreply@blogger.com (Emm) — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 11:43:00 +0000

I have a brother who flies planes. He flies planes to places where bags are cheap.

Again, I repeat, he flies planes to places where BAGS ARE CHEAP!

No, my brother isn't blonde. Hanya gambar hiasan :p

So, it begs the question of why I have yet to capitalise on this fact and grab as many bags as I possibly can at a fraction of the price that I'd have to pay in KL, or Brisbane, for that matter. Well, because my brother... the one who started flying planes to foreign lands even before he was old enough to apply for his own credit card is not unlike Forrest Gump when it comes to shopping.

Case in point #1.
I was in confinement and not allowed out of the house. Therefore, just as he was leaving to go out on a date, I told him to come home with a couple boxes of Milo Kotak (does anybody else notice that Milo that comes in the juicebox tastes utterly more delicious than the ones in the can?). An hour or so later, he calls to say that they've run out of Milo Kotak. To which I tell him to get me the ones in the can. He comes home soon after with my Milo. In a can. POWDERED MILO. IN A CAN!

Case in point #2.
When he started flying the 747s, of course my Mum and I got excited at the prospect of bags available for our pickings. So Mum decided she needed a Large Longchamp Le Pliage to stash in her travel bag for excessive shopping trips (I have unofficially categorised the Le Pliages as 'need' bags and not 'want' bags because of how useful, durable and practical they are). Bro comes home from London to announce to Mum that he did not get her the Le Pliage as they were all so tiny that she couldn't have possibly want one as it would not fit much. My darling bro did not realise that all Le Pliages sold in shops were on display in their folded form!!! (you about ready to pull your hair out now?!)

Tiny bags all in a row!

I suppose the only possible way I can score a bag is to provide him with all the details necessary plus pics (from every angle) together with a letter addressed to the salesperson. Even then, we can only hope. *sigh*

Selamat Hari Raya,
Emm

Style is finally coming to Brisbane!

noreply@blogger.com (Emm) — Sat, 16 Jul 2011 08:16:00 +0000

I took Mum out to Queen St. Mall today, she is here for a visit and has been shopping up a storm (albeit with arthritic knee and all). And then, I saw this....

...like WOOOHOOOO!!! It was bound to happen, especially after Hermes opened it's door in Bris late last year.

Not that I can afford to get anything from here once it opens (although, I must say, dropping AUD$5080 on a Chanel Jumbo Double Flap sounds much less daunting and is further from the fires of hell than RM14770; ok, so maybe not, *burn burn burn*).

I suppose it'll serve as a museum of sorts for me. On those days when life seems bleak and there is nothing to look forward to, I can always walk pass the windows and dream about having a Chanel Maxi to call my own. And when I really need a reason to live, I can maybe pop in and caress its delicate lambskin and soothing ice-cold chains. *sigh*

I must say, this is all beginning to sound a little pathetic but look, it ain't nowhere close to being as sad as having to live on debt for years just to have a piece of Coco hanging off my shoulder. So, tis all good.

Have a good weekend y'all,
Emm

Chanel Limited Edition Medium Nightgarden Ladybug Flap cries

noreply@blogger.com (Emm) — Sun, 10 Jul 2011 07:30:00 +0000

I want this soooooo baaaaad!! But I haven't started eating grass yet!! *wails*


~ pic courtesy of coachnmuchmore.blogspot.com ~

This is available from coachnmuchmore.blogspot.com and is going for RM11,989. Hurry! Before I sell the kid for it!

wanna buy an adorable 3-year-old who knows his dinosaurs? email me!
Emm

Longchamp Le Wot??!!

noreply@blogger.com (Emm) — Mon, 04 Jul 2011 13:08:00 +0000

Was surfing the longchamp website looking for travel bags when I came across the new limited edition le pliages.

Now, you know how I have a weakness for all things winter ie. snow, boots, coats, x'mas, eggnog, well you get the point... but this is like something I would have made when I was 4 and just discovered glue. It's super cute and all, especially the little dangly snowman zipper but errrr......


~ designed by Mrs Claus ~

And then there's this...


I vote neigh!!!

Now this is palatable... I do like my stripes.


also comes in black, but a bit blegh.

Now, this one is something I'm considering. Looks like a practical travel bag/hand luggage for when traveling with children. It's expandable via zipper too so it's not really this big unless you expand it. I just love it when form and function come together!


Rainbow Brite!

Will continue browsing. Night y'all.

xoxo,
Emm

Plotting.

noreply@blogger.com (Emm) — Mon, 04 Jul 2011 04:55:00 +0000

BBM conversations with my cousins go like this....

Cousin N: Abang B says I should go for the Chanel because Chanels are like Rolexes. He says that if I go for the Prada, I'd want 4 more.

(at this point the other cousins and I are about ready to bearhug Abang B). Then Cousin N goes...

Cousin N: but he never said anything about buying it for me. It was just an observation.

(sounds of balloons deflating).

I told them that if I were ever ~~stupid enough~~ to have a Chanel conversation with Mr Man, he'd probably say "ok, go lah get the Chanel, I'll sponsor the grass you have to live on while you save up to get it!" :P

He's sooOOoooo supportive like that.

Mooooooo!

Emm

There's more to life than just bags, you know! Pffttt!

noreply@blogger.com (Emm) — Sat, 02 Jul 2011 10:04:00 +0000

So just to prove to you that my life is not just about bags :p, I'm going to do a movie review today.

Like half the world I know, we went to catch the latest Transformers flick today. Only because ~~Josh Duhamel is so yummy~~ the 3 year old has been harassing us about it for the past two weeks ("Optimus Prime is soooOOooo cool, Mummy!"). Okay fine, so the movie was alright.


Prime's No.1 fan.

There was a scene in the movie that if all of you were to have been there, there would have been a resounding gasp coming from the audience, I'm sure! Unfortunately, I was only surrounded by testorone-filled men whose gasps only came when scenes where Rosie Huntington-Whiteley (read: pouty lips, legs to there, Victoria's Secret lingerie model) appeared on screen.

Anyway, Frances McDormand calls for her "Hermes, Birkin, Green Ostrich!" from her assistant and woe behold, is handed a..... wait for it, an Hermes, Kelly in Green Ostrich instead. Hoh?! That's just so wrong! But then again, Frances McDormand does dress like this to a red carpet event.... so you can't really fault her for mistaking the two.


I'm sure that's not an award for best dressed.

Like I said earlier, I took the Purple Boston out today. Thought it might want some air :D

Even Smurfette approves!

Have a wonderful rest of the weekend, y"all!

xoxo,
Emm

Seeing Cs

noreply@blogger.com (Emm) — Sat, 02 Jul 2011 02:38:00 +0000

Because the Zaiman Kazens (mine) are having a bout of Chanel fever at the moment and have all but sworn to live on grass and sand for the next couple of years to save up for the Double Cs, I have found some gorgeous darlings for you ladies to get your hands on (if you haven't already!).

Corina of MuchMoreinHand has just posted two classic Chanels, the medium flap in black caviar and the petite shopper in the most delicious burgundy colour caviar. Do feast your eyes on them (and empty your bank accounts!).

Medium Flap in Black Caviar


Chanel Petite Shopper in Burgundy Caviar

~Pic credit to muchmoreinhand.blogspot.com~

So, what bag are you carrying around this weekend? Thinking of taking the Purple Boston Gucci (which Corina managed to snag for me from the UK as it was a limited edition colour) out for a spin :D

xoxo,
Emm

What's in her bag? - Nass Y

noreply@blogger.com (Emm) — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 13:04:00 +0000

Hello my luvlies,

I have this little cousin, Nass. She is tall and very sexy.

(Hahahahaha, sorry, those two lines above would only be familiar to you if you have a child who adores the Charlie & Lola series, and no, Charlie does not think his little sister Lola is tall and sexy. Just small and very funny :p).

We have another "what's in her bag" submission. Weee! This one's by Nass Y (check out her blog to find out the OMG-DEMAM-OK?!, little precious she splurged on today!! But first, let's see what goodies she totes around in her Coffer.

By the way, Nass, are you nuts?! Those keys on the lambskin will scratch the leather!!! Smack you, then you know!!

Click on the image above for magnifying-glasses power of vision!

Enjoy ogling, you voyeurs!

xoxo,
Emm

Don't let a little blue get you down...

noreply@blogger.com (Emm) — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 01:37:00 +0000

You know those mornings when you're staring at your closet thinking that you have absolutely nothing to wear, one sure way to bring a little excitement to the day (and your outfit), is to accessorize!

Even Smurfette (who only EVER wears a sleeveless A-line mini dress) can pull off at least 4 completely different looks. Don't believe me?


In Dolce & Gabbana


In Lanvin


In Marc Jacobs


In Louis Vuitton

Photo credit: Jeffrey Westbrook for Harper’s Bazaar

Now, which is your favourite?

xoxo,
Emm

Looking for new homes....

noreply@blogger.com (Emm) — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 06:04:00 +0000

Alright girls (and boys), take your pick! As usual, all items are 100% genuine and authentic.

First up, we have the Brand New With Tags (BNWT), Never Been Used,

YSL Y-Mail LARGE WALLET IN BLACK PATENT LEATHER

The Y-Mail continental wallet in patent leather features the signature and iconic address inspired by Mr. St. Laurent's handwriting (in purple).
4.5H x 7.5W. Made in Italy.
Comes with box and tags.
RRP USD $425. Our Price RM850.

This item was purchased from Reebonz.com. I love the quirky envelope-like concept of the wallet. Reminds me of a Lulu Guinness item.

Next we have the recently purchased, also never been used, BNWT, classic, iconic

MULBERRY BAYSWATER IN BLACK NATURAL LEATHER

It features Mulberry's signature Postman's lock and has a soft, brushed leather interior (the smell of the leather is TDF!). The internal belted sides can be adjusted to give more space inside.

-hidden padlock in hanging leather pouch (this is a new model and does not come with a key, the padlock springs open when you gently tug on it. ref: purseforum.com)

-2 internal slip pockets and 1 internal zip pocket

-H26.5cm x W36cm x D16cm x

-handle drop 15.5cm

This item was also very recently purchased from Reebonz.com on impulse (sigh). Will keep it if there are no takers (but actually really want the dark choc one!).

RRP 675 pounds (mulberry.com). Purchased for AUD $1090 (reebonz.com). Letting go for an even RM3000 (will absorb loss due to own naughtiness and lack of self-control!)

And if you're looking for a smaller, less serious-looking Mulberry, head on to here as I have a cutsie Bayswater in excellent condition up for grabs too! You know where to find me!

Will post up some pre-loved darlings soon! So watch this space!

xoxo,

Emm!

Bagzilla is back!

noreply@blogger.com (Emm) — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 01:04:00 +0000

I think part of the reason why I was on such a long bag-fast was because of the spree I went on at the end of last year which left me a pauper, to put it mildly, (and frankly, scared the bejewels out of me!). Unfortunately, with a birthday coming up soon, coupled with the knowledge that I have not bought a bag in the last six months (before the recent purchase), I think I'm turning into a monster. Help!

~pic taken from Google~

And I didn't tell you about the little SLG's I splurged on within those months of fasting did I? One's still in it's box, untouched. Gosh, I have a whole list of little precious things to put up for sale, don't I? Eeeeks!

xoxo,
Emm

A little update...

noreply@blogger.com (Emm) — Sun, 26 Jun 2011 11:34:00 +0000

As Elly just recently reprimanded me, "You are a disgrace to our bag sisterhood!".

"I know! I'm so ashamed." Mea Culpa!

I know we're starting to sound like an old scratched CD (would you get me if I had said "broken record", you younglings?!), but I do apologise for the lack of updates on this near forgotten bag blog. I do have to justify however, that my silence is largely due to the fact that my life has been devoid of bag passion in the past few months. It really doesn't help that the bag scene here is rather dry and I do not have ~~the devil~~ Elly to spur me on to frivolous purchases. (However, she seems to be doing just fine *cough* 3 bags in 5 months *cough cough* without me :p). Heh! You know I love you, my friend!

Aaaaanyway, after 6 months of unintentional bag-fasting (I know, right?!!), I have recently broken my fast. It was a pretty safe purchase. Black. Classic. Tried and true. Just, not so me. I can't remember the last time I bought a black bag. I always tend to move a little to the left of a classic. I stick to classic shapes, but I may pick an unusual colour, a quirky feature, a little customisation or personalisation. This one however is a straight-up, no-frills classic. It was an impulse buy. Not unlike someone who hasn't had sex for a long while and humps the first available straight guy she sees. Errr, maybe not.

I'll let you know if I decide to keep it once it's here courtesy of Reebonz.com. Love them... they're fast and efficient!

xoxo,
Emm

What's in her bag? - Aliya A.

noreply@blogger.com (Elly) — Wed, 20 Apr 2011 01:00:00 +0000

Hi everybody!

This poor, abandoned, sad case of a blog... how we wish we had more hours to the day and ourselves. Life has been really darn hectic off late but fret not, handbags are still a mainstay in our existence :)

Well today, we have been saved by a reader who has most generously and willingly bared all for us. Thank you to the lovely Aliya A. for contributing to our "What's in her bag?" feature. You have injected some life to this woe befallen blog :)

Without further ado, please enjoy (and begin psychoanalyzing *kidding*) Aliya's submission...

My latest baby *love* - and we swoon darling... can never go wrong with a classic!
Bag organiser, for ease of transfer between bags
Reusable bag - for shopping on Saturdays and also to protect my bag from the rain if the need arises
Coach wristlet - lipstick, compact powder, tissue pack, eyedrops; other girly junk
iPod - to block out the world - a girl does need to regain her sanity at intervals!
Office keys
Notepad
Old faithful Nokia E71
Office tag
Cole Haan Zip Wallet - keeper of cash, numerous cards (useful and useless included), receipts, etc.

Thanks again Aliya! If anyone out there wants to bare it all for us, just send us an email and we'll put it up here on TBC. Let's share some bag lovin'...

XOXO, E&M

Elly's pick of the week

noreply@blogger.com (Elly) — Fri, 25 Mar 2011 05:30:00 +0000

Hi y'all.

It's nearly the weekend. Phew. Hope your week has been a productive one. Mine had its ups and downs.
Plus point: My bag from Kepris, Singapore arrived. Low point: Office drama *nothing new*

So, to end the week, I'd like to highlight my bag of choice from the many blogshops listed on TBC.

Malin's probably gonna puke in a minute, 'cos of all the bags featured online, I JUST HAD TO PICK YET ANOTHER ANYA HINDMARCH! :)

I can just imagine the soft buttery leather - Pic credit: Purple Plum

Suede lining, Yum! AH no longer lines her bags with suede, now uses fabric - Pic Credit: Purple Plum

Reminds me so much of my Cooper and Bess, which I will NEVER EVER sell :) - Pic Credit: Purple Plum

Granted it is preloved, Purple Plum is offering it at RM1200, which I think is very well priced for an Anya Hindmarch! Check out her site now!

Happy weekend!
xoxo, Elly

What's in her bag? - Elly

noreply@blogger.com (Elly) — Tue, 15 Feb 2011 15:42:00 +0000

Howdy!

Malin's done hers, time for my tour of duty. Thought I'd get it done tonight cos I'm expecting this working week to be horrendous!

Click on the picture for larger image

What's missing from the picture is my Moleskin and my pen/pencil case. The contents tend to change depending on my activities. If I were with the kids on a weekend for example, expect to find a spare diaper, butt-wipes, munchies, drinking water and an iPad. With all those things, it's no wonder I see a chiropractor... (Public service announcement: Ladies, be mindful of the weight of your bag and its impact on your body! I need to heed this...)

I used to use a handbag organizer, still have one but I think using smaller, separate cases gives a lot more flexibility. Apart from that, it makes me more disciplined in organizing - I used to just dump everything in the main compartment of the handbag organizer rather than use its pockets. I would later end up scrummaging for stuff... defeating its purpose.

So pray, tell us... what's in your bag?

Much love,
Elly

What's in her bag? - Malin

noreply@blogger.com (Emm) — Fri, 11 Feb 2011 05:45:00 +0000

I love what's-in-her-bag features in mags and websites. I think it's because it satisfies the voyeur in me. I love how the insides of someone's bag reflects a person's personality from the colour of her wallet to the pen she carries. So, after all the looking I've done, I've decided to let you have a peep into my bag :D


Click for a better look!

So, what's in your bag? Send us a pic and we'll put it up!

xoxo,
Malin

Just added: "Slap Me Why Don't You?" to the bloglist :)

noreply@blogger.com (Elly) — Sat, 15 Jan 2011 16:02:00 +0000

Gosh. Never realised it existed! T'was supposed to be doing work (yes, on a weekend, how sad and pitiful) but I had so much fun going through the rants of buyers, sellers and reviewers alike on this blog: Slap Me Why Don't You? Such a thrilling read. I particilarly liked her contact tagline:

Should you want to contact me : Say hello, buy me coffee, slap my butt, give me a grammy or drip lime juice into my eyeballs. Email slapmewhydontyou@gmail.com

Isn't she just hilarious?

After reading the blog, I was reminded of a song by War - Why can't we be friends? Totally suitable, am I right?

Why can't we be friends?
Why can't we be friends?
Why can't we be friends?
Why can't we be friends?

The color of your skin don't matter to me
As long as we can live in harmony

As we've mentioned numerous times before - word does get around you know, so everyone, please mind your manners and let's all together make this a better world! And resellers, remember to check out our tips HERE.

Good night peeps!

XOXO,
Elly

Queensland Flood Crisis - Day 2, 12 Jan 2011

noreply@blogger.com (Emm) — Fri, 14 Jan 2011 02:12:00 +0000

This is the old jetty located right in front of our apartment block that was damaged in the 1974 floods, a reminder of the power of mother nature. The river surpassed the height of this jetty in the 1974 floods.

Waking up to live updates and press conferences by a visibly shaken Queensland Premiere, Anna Bligh, it was hard to comprehend and believe that the worst was yet to come because it was a perfect sunny Queensland summer day. We are not called The Sunshine State for nothing, although, that was hard to believe in the past couple of months. Still watching the news and trying to assess the situation in order to decide what to do, text messages and calls that had started coming in from the night before from concerned family and friends started flooding in. Many asking us to leave Brisbane and return to Kuala Lumpur before the airports were closed. But how could we? We were not in Brisbane on vacation, we live and we work here. Our lives were here. Isn't it only fair that we get through this together with our friends and neighbours who were at risk of losing everything?

Our next door neighbour was determined to wait it out in her apartment. She could live without electricity she said, and shared her stock of blackout candles with us. Despite our suburb being listed in the high flood risk zone and we were advised to move to higher ground, we were still undecided, since we lived high up on the fourth floor. It was frightening to read on twitter that suburbs in the city were already waist high in water on the second floor of apartment buildings. I need to emphasise here that Brisbane is a modern metropolitan, with highly advanced technological infrastructure. To have houses submerged up to their rooftops in muddy flood water is beyond surreal.

A friend who lived a 10 minute walk away and relatively higher up hill than us offered us her place as she was leaving town for a couple of days. After much discussion, we decided to take her up on the offer. Being on the fourth floor, it wasn't the water that worried us as much as the loss of power. Power loss meant no electricity, no electricity meant food in the fridge would deteriorate in the summer heat, loss of communication due to batteries running out in our laptops and mobiles, no updates from the telly and possibly no fresh water from pump failure. It is staggering, the things we take for granted but with a 2 year old who doesn't understand what is going on, not having fresh milk is the end of the world.

So, as hubs was gathering whatever food we had managed to stock up, I went to get the car (which was parked on a hill about a 10 minute walk away). As soon as I exited the apartment building and entered the street, a crowd of people were already building up. Flood waters from the storm drains had started flooding the streets and were rising up quickly. Police had started cordoning off the streets and roads leading in and out of our place. At first we thought well that's it, we were too late and were trapped in our building, but we decided that I could try to park one street away, which meant having to lug our things and supplies, but it was a chance. By the time we had everything in the car, the water was already knee-deep.

The access road/junction leading to our building. This happened in under 10 minutes.

Trying to cross a bridge that didn't go OVER a creek, but through it.

Praying that we weren't too late to avoid flooding roads, we made a decision to evacuate further away to an area not listed as a flood zone. After a couple of detours due to closed roads and crossing a bridge where the river under it had started flowing over it, we found ourselves at a friend's place with 4 other families including the host family. Relief was reflected on everyone's faces but you could feel a strong hidden undercurrent of mixed emotions brewing underneath. In between cooking and organising for five families, everyone was glued to the telly. It was a restless, sleepless night. Some were exhausted from no sleep the night before due to heavy lifting, trying to salvage as much furniture as possible from the lower floors and sandbagging their houses and properties. Plus we were still waiting for the river to peak at 4am to know the real extent of the damage and devastation. Projected levels of the peak were expected to be higher than the devastating floods of 1974. There really was not much to do but to wait and see.

Carindale "Flood Relief Centre". Thank God for friends in high places. Literally.

Queensland/Brisbane Flood Crisis - Day 1, 11 Jan 2011

noreply@blogger.com (Emm) — Thu, 13 Jan 2011 01:14:00 +0000

We live on the riverfront in the suburb of New Farm. A new and modern development with a sculpture at the end of our street marking the level of the water of the historic floods of 1974. The kids climb up and slide down the sculpture every time we pass it not knowing or understanding its significance. Honestly, even I never gave it a second thought. Twas just a piece of "interesting" history.

7.30am On Tuesday morning we woke up to a dark and stormy day. Switching on the news, we were told to prepare for some flooding but that was nothing unusual; we DO live on the riverfront. The husband went off to work taking the bus and I started getting the toddler ready for daycare, planning to stock up on supplies after, just in case. Supplies of what, I had no idea. Born and bred in Kuala Lumpur, I had never experienced more than the usual flooding of the Federal Highway during heavy downpour. As we came down to the basement car park, we saw our neighbours clearing out their basement storage areas.

9.30am A quick chat with the director of the daycare and she seemed in good spirits, joking about how I should stay home because it was supposed to "flood" in New Farm in an hour (it never does). I proceeded to head down to Coles, the neighbourhood supermarket. It was a little shocking to see people grabbing bottled water by the cartons, bread by loaves and loaves, even meat had to be restocked by the supermarket packers. They were flying off the shelves as fast as they were being stocked. It wasn't the kind of panic you see in disaster movies, instead people were calm, almost eerily calm. Determined not to panic, I headed to the gym for a quick workout, only because I could keep an eye on the river from on the treadmill. The water was higher than I've ever seen before and people were coming out to the boardwalk alongside the river to watch unbelievable debris floating downstream. Huge pieces of wood, pontoons, jet skis and small boats still attached to them, uprooted trees, even a mattress. People were quiet, soberly watching and wondering what the day would bring.

On a good day, you can't even see the river from this vantage point, but it's risen high enough to be seen from here. You can see it behind the tree on the top right corner.

11.00am I received a text message from my husband in the Brisbane CBD informing me that the Brisbane River had broken its banks and started flooding the walkways of the opposite bank where the Brisbane Cultural Centre was housed. I immediately decided to pick up the 2 year old from daycare and keep him home with me because we had been advised to park the car uphill and not keep it in the basement car park, again, just in case.

11.45am As I reached the school (in Fortitude Valley) cars were lined outside. Walking through the doors, daycare director, Andrea, and a few other teachers were on the phone, calling parents to come fetch their children, as they have been told to evacuate. That really put things in perspective. Not to sound dramatic, but I had to swallow a wave of panic which evidently flashed across my face. Packed the kid in the car, and headed off to find a spot on a hill to park the car. It wasn't as easy as I thought it would be because everyone else had scrambled for an empty spot on the hill. Finally I found one, bundled the toddler in gumboots and a raincoat and headed home in the rain.

12.00pm The reports coming in on the news was frightening. Toowoomba which is about 700m above sea level had been hit by an "inland tsunami" (those are the pictures you keep seeing on CNN). I started following #qldfloods on twitter. The live pictures coming in were awful and scary. Especially pictures of the rapidly rising Brisbane River which had broken its banks in the heart of the city at Eagle St. Pier and began flooding the inner city suburb of Southbank and West End (where many of our friends stay). I was glued to the local news reporting on rising river levels, but even more heartbreakingly so, missing persons reports and deaths. Every 15 minutes found me out on the balcony checking to see if the river level in front of our house had risen to engulf the bike path and boardwalk.

Our neighbours frantically sandbagging their garage door.

2.00pm Husband came home. People were filing out of the city once the Eagle St. Pier became inundated with water and the offices on Eagle Street were being evacuated. Citycat (ferry) services that took people from the suburbs to the city and back had been suspended due to exceptionally strong current and fast rising river waters. Rumours started to fly around that the public transport services were going to be suspended too. For the rest of the evening we were glued to the news and flood reports on the telly, tweets by people directly affected by the floods and websites that were live streaming videos and regularly updating us on the situation. Exhausted, we fell asleep. The only reason we could fall asleep was because we were housed on the fourth floor of our apartment building. At least we wont be swept away by the river in the night.

Blogshops - Pick of the week and other love notes

noreply@blogger.com (Elly) — Wed, 12 Jan 2011 05:08:00 +0000

Eye candy for you my lovelies. My top picks this mid week are as follows.

(1) This gorgeous oversized Mulberry Alexa in berry from Delia over at One Girl's Junk. We've been raving about satchels here.

Picture from Delia's blog.

(2) Totally in love with this Prada tote, which can also be crossbodied from Tote to Toe. I believe it is also known as the "half moon tote".

Picture from Tote to Toe.

What arm candies are you lusting after this week?

Other updates:

Reebonz is currently having their European Designer's event. I strongly recommend you check it out if you are after YSL's Roadie or Downtown and Tod's G-bag or D-bag. What's even better is that they offer 0% installment plans from major credit card issuers. Talk about distributing your pain man! This lessens the burden :)
New blogshops added - The Bags Affairs, Gorgeous by Sha Shaari and Bagganza Boutique. Go show them some love!

Much love,

Elly