I mean, HK is about shopping and sightseeing and eating. In that order, for this trip.

I hit 2 H&M outlets – Central and the latest one (which was the flagship store) at Canton Road. Tehpeng has since learnt to not ask why the need to hit multiple outlets of the same store.

Nat has also learnt to have fun while mummy shop. 

This trip, we checked ourselves into a service apartment in HK island . Thanks to bff Dada’s recommendation when she was helping me source for accomm. HK, afterall, is also her playground

Besides the larger floor area compared to normal hk hotel rooms, the location was superb. It was just opposite Times Square which made it convenient for us in terms of transport (cabs at the doorstep and a MTR exit, though it’s quite a long walk underground before we even got to the train), food, supermarket run (fruits and juices at City Super for that healthy boost!) and of course, shopping.

The night before we checked out for the 2nd part of our HK trip (Disney hotel), I managed to hit the Pedder Warehouse Sale, as a last burst.

What do you know, having given the SG one a miss this time (it’s always crowded in a small place), I kinda scored (again) here. A much enjoyable experience, less people and larger floor area.

Not sure how, but I managed to pack in 6 shoeboxes and the clothes into our luggage…;)

As what tehpeng said, our HK trip ended faster than our countdown to it.

And I found that nat and I share a love for space…

For nat, it was the Buzz Lightyear Astro Blaster ride.

In fact, he liked it so much (admittedly, me too!), we went thrice in the span of 2 days (staying at Disney hotel meant our tickets allowed us 2-days entry. YAY!).

He will go “shoot!’ and make those astro-blasting sounds when we talk about the ride. Very cute.

For me, it was SPACE outlet. When we reached there after Ocean Park, Nat was all ready to space out….

It was located in a residential area and right next to it was a wet market. Kidding you not. When we enter the building, we had to whiff the wet market smell first. Very strange. But that didn’t stop me from grinning hugely and my heartbeat went faster.

As tehpeng waited with a sleeping nat, I went around and bought. I had to restrain myself and my limited budget also helped to restrain me…still, I think my loot was not too bad!

We went on to another building (17 floors of outlets!!) which was just a taxi-hop away, but by then, I was all shopped out and even Joyce & Lane Crawford outlet didn’t manage to excite me…(very limited selection of red soled shoes in my size).

Things one do(or buy) when one is stressed (at work), needed retail therapy, but on a budget and have no time to hit the shops.

Online’s the way, and little stuff to accessorise office-thingamajings.

I knew I was out of touch when I saw a few ladies wearing them fitflops and as I pointed them out to tehpeng, he said ‘oh, this was what lish updated about on her facebook status”.

So I went in search of them with Dada and found that fitflops didn’t quite fit my feet. Or my toes.

I’ve always had a problem looking for chic flipflops. I have no issue with Old Navy or Havianas types, but if only they come with more bling!

So I had some fun poking around, trying on blingy sandals. It must be a sign of age-ing!

Finally settled on a blingy pair and went merrily on the usual round to smell the leather. Was quite taken by the new Miumiu(in blue!), which looks really similar to the PS1. According to the sales lady, the bag is sturdy enough for laptop and document. Hmmm….

Then my toes found comfort in this pair of jellyshoes. As much a cynic as I am about jello-shoes, they are really comfy. And I was looking at the yellow pair. Nothing short of making a statement with a bright colour (other than bling!).

Certainly, it is a sign of age-ing. Or otherwise known as a maturing of taste.

(Finally something non-nat on my blog.)

One of the rare days I managed to get out for lunch, it was a dept lo-hei lunch and it was just across from the office. We happened to walk past the Samsonite store and was attracted to the current promotion of a $299 luggage with trade-in of any luggage (which will be donated to Salvation Army).

Now, not that we needed a new luggage but the promo was quite good and one of our work-horse luggage was kinda wobbly anyway. So, after consultation with tehpeng (got to love having the iphone - snap a pic and email!), we decided to go for it. It will come in handy for our HK trip next month.

And I realised why I like online shopping much. No need to deal with or face sub-standard service.

As I didn’t want to lug the luggage to office, I asked if I can pick it up later. The sales guy said,ok. The transaction was done and the receipt was given to me.

lilsnooze :: Erm do you need to write down somewhere that I’ve yet to collect the luggage?

Sales guy :: Ah yes.

*does nothing* And lilsnooze gives the “yes???” look. He finally plucks off a piece of post-it and asked for my name and contact details. My receipt number was not even tagged to it.

Sales guy :: you must come early tomorrow cos Im on morning shift and I scared my colleague mix up.

lilsnooze :: But I paid for it. You should have to keep 1 for me and label it as sold or smthing!?

Anyway, I left it as that and left, cos I am not going to tell him how to do his job.

Thankfully, tehpeng came to pick me up so I went after work to collect the luggage.

The same sales guy took one out from the carton box and in doing so, toppled the new luggage against the edge of a cupboard. And.there. was.a.scratch.

lilsnooze :: It’s scratched!

Sales guy :: Luggage use, sure will scratch.

Lilsnooze :: But it’s new and I’ve not used it yet!

Tehpeng said its ok (less I kick up a further fuss, maybe?) and we left with the luggage.

I was honestly cheesed off by the sales guy’s attitude. I am considerably not a demanding person and I would not have insisted for a new luggage to be given to me (I’m really not that fussy) but his reply was “cannot-make-it”! And truly un-acceptable.

Im not in the retail industry but the seemingly right way to answer a customer in such a situation would be an apology and an offer to give me another luggage. No?!

Gimme online shopping anytime. Email queries are answered promptly and nicely!

Pink is the new red.

I find myself more receptive to the idea of wearing colours for the festive period. It must be a sign of age(ing). I remembered resisting colours in yesteryears. Still, I need some sombre colours to mute the dress, for work puposes. I need the dress for work too.

I wasn’t really looking for CNY clothes, but I thought having some colours to my usual black/grey/white work ensemble would be nice.

And it happens to fit the father-son matching outfits which tehpeng bought.

恭贺大家心想事成，健康快乐 ！

My dad has always been the family’s courier-shopper of sorts, since he’s frequently overseas. So when he’s home-bound, there’s bound to be a flurry of emails to him (from me and babysis).

He was last in Paris in Dec and of course, we sent him a user-friendly version of our wishlist (complete with images and price range). And he really did shop for us. Nevermind, if what he bought was not in our wishlist. Hahaha.

So, our Paris loot is homebound next week. And apparently, my dad was having issues with packing my shoes, and my mum reminded him that I want the shoebox intact. Aka, the shoes got to come back with the box! Gotta love my folks for indulging my whims.

Of course, grandson nat gets special attention. He was asked what he wants and he told my dad over the phone :: “Buy Car”. And when my dad asked “what car?”, he goes “Chick!” (Which is the only name he can say, from the 3 cars).

That got my dad confused since I don’t think he’s watched Cars before (nvm, when he’s back next week, he will get to watch the movie!).

So my mum very helpfully told him this: “If you see a Green car, with eyes and number 86 on it, buy”.

Really wonder what my dad will bring home this time…