January Purchases
Time for the first purchase roundup of 2013! As you can see I have crossed one of my “need items” off my list, but a few other things also popped up along the way…
1. Mini M.A.C bag, Rebecca Minkoff. I originally wanted the version with regular black leather, but I have to tell you, I am loving the patent. I spent a week looking for a black and silver version on every website imaginable, until finally the lovely people at Rebecca Minkoff replied to an e-mail I sent them and made the black and silver version available for me. I fell completely head over heels for the Mini M.A.C, and it elegantly ticked off my need for a small, versatile bag. I one-in-one-outed it by gifting my old and guilt-inducingly-unloved evening bag to Maria.
2. Studded Pave Leather Bracelet, Rebecca Minkoff. Funny story about the bracelet – when ordering the Mini M.A.C I had the choice of paying $100 (!!) in shipping to Norway or purchasing something for $105+ and get free shipping, as the Rebecca Minkoff website has free shipping on orders over $300. That is how the bracelet happened. Luckily I had been eyeing it from afar for a little while already, so it wasn’t a complete impulse buy, but under different circumstances I wouldn’t have allowed myself to buy it. I still absolutely love it though, so I don’t feel bad about this purchase at all. It more than slightly resembles the Hermès Collier de Chien, but without the hefty $1000-and-up price tag…
3. Forlife teapot. I have never in my life owned a tea pot, which is pretty crazy considering how much tea I drink. This one is small and very cleverly designed, and I have had it in the back of my mind since October or November. I have used it nearly every day since I bought it, and since we have culled three or four boxes worth of kitchen items lately the tea pot passes the “need”, the “one-in-one-out” AND the “made my heart flutter” test. Score!
4. Yarn, because I’m teaching myself how to knit socks! My grandma used to knit me a pair of socks several times a year, and ever since she passed away I’ve been meaning to learn how to knit my own. I am honoring her memory while getting warm fuzzies and warm feet.
5. Western Digital 1TB portable hard drive. The Boyfriend was given two for Christmas, and since he only needed one I took this one off his hands – with a girlfriend discount on the original price, of course. I had been thinking about buying one for a very long time as my old one no longer had enough storage space, so this was a perfect coincidence.
6. Tickets to see a stand-up comedian. I can’t tell you which one – that would be like saying “Hi Internet, my apartment will be empty that weekend” – but I am really looking forward to it! This was a complete impulse buy, but only because we didn’t know about it in advance. We had already talked about how we need to see this person live they ever visit Norway, so missing out just wasn’t an option. Also, it is a perfect excuse for a couple’s weekend away :)
And that was it! I don’t really have any purchases on my mind for February, except you know, maybe our summer holiday… Eep!
That’s a very short list for a sales month, congrats! I love Forlife teapots too, I remember seeing one (a bit different from yours) in the hotel I was staying in Stockholm that I found clever, practical and elegant. Contrarily to you though, I already have a teapot so I never made the purchase…
The one pictured is actually not the exact one that I bought – I believe it is the same shape, but it is designed for tea bags instead of loose leaves :) It has a little inner shelf that you pull the tea bag onto when it has been steeped long enough, I love that little extra touch!
What a lovely collection! Looks like you did some smart shopping this month. Your little bag is so great, and how amazing that they managed to get you the one you were looking for! Now that’s service! I have a black patent satchel that I adore but honestly I’m always afraid to use it because the finish seems so delicate and I’m afraid to scratch it. Which is silly, I know, because what is the point if you don’t actually use it. Maybe you can help me get over that. Also, I’m just recently getting back into knitting myself, this was my big project to get back into it:
http://www.nomadicd.com/2012/10/braided.html
and I loved it. Nothing so ambitious as socks though. Turning that heel is no easy feat! And in black no less, you are brave.
http://www.nomadicd.com
Thanks Nomadic D.! You will not believe how happy I was when the e-mail from the Rebecca Minkoff costumer service arrived – by then I had googled, e-mailed and live-chatted my way through the deepest, darkest corners of the internet! It really is no problem to get hold of these bags, and you can get brand new ones on eBay for less than the official price, but the black and silver was a real pain to find! I might have squealed and done a little chair dance when I finally got to order it ;)
The bag that I used as a book bag at Uni (back when I had absolutely no regard for my poor poor shoulders) was patent and it actually held up really well, but of course that might not be the case for your particular bag. I say give it a go, though! Better get a scratch or two and know for sure than to never use it, right? :)
Defne, I saw your comment about your black patent satchel and I wouldn’t worry about getting it scratched – black patent is really tough actually. My friends who have little girls say the patent shoes are the toughest ones (because I expressed the same worry about them getting scratched). Road-tested by small people – what can I say?
Thanks! Bloggers to the rescue! My husband and I actually bought it to share (sometimes he can be so adventurous!) but neither of us will touch it for fear of scratching it. Which is the most ridiculous thing ever. But you guys have made my morning. Now we’re going to start fighting over who gets to use it ;)
http://www.nomadicd.com
Hei.
Den tekannen så ut til å være akuratt det jeg ser etter! Hvor kjøpte du den?
Så koselig at du vil ta opp strikking. Jeg har gjenoppdaget strikking denne vinteren og må si at det er en helt egen tilfredstillelse ved å lage noe selv. Lykke til med sokkene :-)
Hei T.! Jeg kjøpte den på Ting på bryggen i Bergen, men jeg mener å ha sett dem flere steder på nett også :)
Åh, jeg er forelsket i vesken din, såå fin:) Trenger en veske i den størrelsen selv, men budsjettet mitt er nok nærmere 300 kr enn 300 dollar for tiden..ønsker meg et fullført studie og heltidsjobb haha. Kjempesøt tekanne også:) Du har ikke noen Bergenstips forresten? Butikker eller spisesteder eller annet? Skal dit første helgen i mars for å besøke søster som studerer der..:)
Åj, Bergenstips! La meg tenke. Vi har jo de aller fleste kjedebutikkene rundt Torgallmenningen og på sentrene rundt, samt på Bystasjonen som er ca 5 minutters gange unna. Litt mer spesielt klær og tilbehør (brukt og vintage f.eks) kan du finne i Skostredet og i et par butikker rundt Kong Oscars gate, og en del av de litt dyrere merkene holder til i Nygårdsgaten og i gågaten. Om du liker sminke finner du Makeup Store på Exhibition-senteret og M.A.C på Kløverhuset. Om du liker Fretex så finner du dem i gågaten og i Lars Hilles gate like bortenfor Bystasjonen, men Fretex i Bergen kan virkelig ikke sammenlignes med de i Oslo :)
Når det gjelder spisesteder så anbefaler jeg alltid tapas på Escalon! Åh, jeg elsker Escalon. Om du liker burgere så anbefaler jeg Inside, for de synes jeg er aller aller best, selv om andre insisterer på at Biskopen sine er bedre. Kinamat er i min mening best på Hot Wok, og du kan få billig og bra pasta på pastacentralen! Jeg vet at også at mange er glade i maten på Zupperia, men dit går jeg ikke så ofte selv. Og hei, kaffen er bra på Kaffemisjonen, og påsmurt brødmat er best på Godt Brød! Ikke veldig billig, men fy søren så godt. Der kjøper jeg alltid søndagsfrokost :)
Takk for tips, noterer meg :D
Jeg eeelsker baguettene fra Godt Brød, omg, bor ikke så langt unna det (i Oslo). Men ja, det er innmari dyrt >< Jeg og kjærsten pleier å kjøpe bare baguetter der også smører vi hjemme som ekte gjerrigknarker hehe:)
Gosh you have done well, seems like you haven’t strayed from the list far at all, bar the bracelet, but that looks like a good purchase, as you say, very Hermes!
I don’t think I have, no! It all totaled at a bit more than I had planned for, but I’ll make up for it in February :)
I like the teapot – I’m very much a tea drinker myself. It reminds me of my Muji one which has a little sieve inside it for the tea leaves – yours look like it has something similar?
And it’s always lovely to have excellent customer service from a company. There’s not enough of it going around these days. Most times when I ring up, the shop assistants can’t be bothered to do anything. But occasionally there is the odd one who is just lovely and just changes the whole shopping experience for you. Does it take that much to say “I will have a look for you and check …..” rather than “Don’t think so and don’t know when we’re getting any in).
I’m so with you on the costumer service. I worked in a call center for a while, and it really doesn’t take that much effort to make most of the conversations perfectly pleasant, even with a less-than-perfect starting point. I also know for sure that I’m a loyal costumer to the places where the shop assistants treat me well. It just makes you feel so much better about handing over your hard-earned money!
Seems like a really good purchase list! I desperately want a teapot, but I can’t seem to justify buying one…however this one makes me reconsider getting one! I just recently finished my biggest knitting project to date — I’m ridiculously proud. Good luck with your sock knitting mission!
Congratulations on your knitting project, that is so cool! Would you mind sharing what it was? :)
I’d like to work myself up to something like a sweater one day, but I’m not in a rush. Socks are plenty for now!
I knitted the famous Tom Baker scarf from Dr Who! (http://hautemacabre.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/dr-whoscarf5b15d-718346.jpeg) It’s probably the most geeky thing I have ever done, but it fills me with so much joy. I’ve never ventured into the sock knitting area, but it’s high in priority on my to do list – cold feet are the worst.
i always enjoy these posts.
i´ve decided to keep track on my spendings every month as well. january wasn´t too great^^
That’s such a sweet tribute to your grandmother! You did well. I adore the cuff- such a nice way to add a bit of edge to any outfit.
[...] have been meaning to write a little post about the Rebecca Minkoff Mini M.A.C bag that I bought back in January for a while now, but there has always been a lack of energy and/or sunlight that put an end to my [...]