In lieu of the release and record-breaking sales of the iPad2...
This is totally worth watching til the end. Thanks to my friend Simone for finding this.
The iPad2 has been selling like crazy, which means everyone has $600+ laying around the house to blow on it. I'm so happy the US economic crisis is over!
Or is it?
Shell out $600 for a tablet just because it's *cool*. ...Just certainly not my priority.
The iPad is just an illustration here. Consumerism is rampant, and only tends to get worse. There are trillions of products offered to us in the stores and we dash to buy it, just because...
Having a baby? No problem? We have diaper pails with refills, machines that will prepare a bottle for you (just like you'd prepare an espresso!), swings, wiper warmers, etc. What will you actually use? Is it worth it to spend $$$$ on a $150 designer diaper bag that you will carry around for a couple of years? Our diaper bag was a roomy, navy blue Eddie Bauer I got as a baby shower gift, unisex, and can still be used for other purposes (price tag $30). Don't get me started on the $900 strollers. There's certainly quality strollers out there that cost 4 times less.
A few years ago, we invested in an expensive KitchenAid mixer for the kitchen. I had an old hand-held mixer that just wasn't powerful enough to whip all the different frostings I decorate cakes with. I did my research. I found out that while the investment was a bit steep (more or less $200), the appliance would last a lifetime.
The same thing when I had to replace our vacuum cleaner and ended up investing on a Dyson. The price tag on that baby was $400, but I managed to pay $320 with a coupon. And I'll likely never have to spend money on a vacuum cleaner ever again.
*I swear I am not being paid for merchandising here.*
The bottom line is I'm certainly not perfect, but I learned to only buy what I need, and I do my homework before I spend my hard-earned cash. I don't need to replace the car every 2 years. I don't replace my computer every 2 years. Ultimately, everyone spends their money to buy whatever they want. A $600 tablet, a $700 Christian Loboutin pump, a $1,200 Coach handbag. Take your pick. Whatever makes you happy :)
Showing posts with label shopping. Show all posts
Showing posts with label shopping. Show all posts
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
The chronicles of a carioca: the shoes, the beach and goodbye mole!
Hubby is going to kill me. I'm hoping the thrill of seeing me and T again will offset his rage :P
I have been comparing the price of merchandise here in BR with the US. Things seem so much more expensive in Rio than I anticipated.
The thing is, nice, quality shoes in the US are usually imported from Brazil or Italy. So I decided that shoes were a good investment. So I bought a couple of pairs. I mean, ok, I bought 5 pairs of shoes! :P
I am the bargain lady, so 2 of the pairs I was able to get at a discounted price at a store. I mean, really good prices.
The other 3 are jellies. Do you remember jelly shoes from the 80s? They're a weakness of mine. I admit it. I am addicted to Melissa shoes. Melissa is a brand of jelly shoes that started in 1979 and became really big around that time. I had several pairs growing up. Recently, it became a very popular again and even high-end designers have released custom Melissa shoes.
These are the ones I bought. They're so incredibly comfortable!
I bought a pair of Melissa Joy in black and 2 pairs of Melissa Hello, in black and in red. The heel is a bit higher than I'm used to wear, but the inside is padded and it's incredibly great to walk on.
Changing the subject...
Even though it's winter in Rio de Janeiro, we have been experiencing a variety in temperatures. From 60 to 97F. My aunt often says in Rio there are 2 types of weather: hot, and a cold front.
60F and my aunt was wearing a hood and a scarf - I am serious!
Anyway, we were able to enjoy the beach last week, despite the cold water. The sad thing is I met one of my best friends today, and she asked why I didn't go out in the sun. I did! I am *tan*. The thing is I usually look like Casper (LOL).
But now I can no longer be under the sun. I went to the doctor today and had a mole between my eyebrow and my hairline removed. It was getting bigger and bothering me, so she applied some local anesthetic, grabbed the scalpel... voila! Only one stitch and I'm as good as new. I was calm during the whole procedure and nearly fell asleep. My mom went with me and was like "Ew, I don't want to watch it". Too bad.
Other than that, I have been eating like a pig. But I think I lost some weight. The jeans are looser. My dad and I have been going for walks whenever possible, and I have been sleeping long hours. I think that helps.
P.S. My grandma is not doing well at all. But I don't want to talk about this right now.
I have been comparing the price of merchandise here in BR with the US. Things seem so much more expensive in Rio than I anticipated.
The thing is, nice, quality shoes in the US are usually imported from Brazil or Italy. So I decided that shoes were a good investment. So I bought a couple of pairs. I mean, ok, I bought 5 pairs of shoes! :P
I am the bargain lady, so 2 of the pairs I was able to get at a discounted price at a store. I mean, really good prices.
The other 3 are jellies. Do you remember jelly shoes from the 80s? They're a weakness of mine. I admit it. I am addicted to Melissa shoes. Melissa is a brand of jelly shoes that started in 1979 and became really big around that time. I had several pairs growing up. Recently, it became a very popular again and even high-end designers have released custom Melissa shoes.
These are the ones I bought. They're so incredibly comfortable!
I bought a pair of Melissa Joy in black and 2 pairs of Melissa Hello, in black and in red. The heel is a bit higher than I'm used to wear, but the inside is padded and it's incredibly great to walk on.
Changing the subject...
Even though it's winter in Rio de Janeiro, we have been experiencing a variety in temperatures. From 60 to 97F. My aunt often says in Rio there are 2 types of weather: hot, and a cold front.
60F and my aunt was wearing a hood and a scarf - I am serious!
Anyway, we were able to enjoy the beach last week, despite the cold water. The sad thing is I met one of my best friends today, and she asked why I didn't go out in the sun. I did! I am *tan*. The thing is I usually look like Casper (LOL).
But now I can no longer be under the sun. I went to the doctor today and had a mole between my eyebrow and my hairline removed. It was getting bigger and bothering me, so she applied some local anesthetic, grabbed the scalpel... voila! Only one stitch and I'm as good as new. I was calm during the whole procedure and nearly fell asleep. My mom went with me and was like "Ew, I don't want to watch it". Too bad.
Other than that, I have been eating like a pig. But I think I lost some weight. The jeans are looser. My dad and I have been going for walks whenever possible, and I have been sleeping long hours. I think that helps.
P.S. My grandma is not doing well at all. But I don't want to talk about this right now.
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