Tip: Shopping for festive decor and getting deals
If you love having Christmas or Chinese New Year any festive themed items around the home, you might have realised that they are really quite expensive to buy all at a go as the holidays or festivities approach.
So, the trick is to plan ahead. If you find and buy your festive or holiday themed item early, you are more likely to get them at a good price before they get snapped up, or before prices go up.
Alternatively, buy them just after the festive period or holiday season when retailers want to get rid of their excess stock. These holiday themed items are less in demand during the year and so retailers are likely to let them go at hefty discounts.
I bought these Christmas themed bowls from Tangs department store in Singapore just after Christmas at a hefty 70% discount. They ended up being something like S$2+ (RM8+) each. I also got a few sets of decorative snack plates at just slightly over S$7 (RM16) for a box of 4.
I plan to use them throughout the year because they look so festive and bright and cheery but I know they will come in handy next Christmas if I decide to hold a party then. Don’t you love deals like these?
My Chicwear.com.my package is here!
Whee! After reading about Giddy Tiger’s experience shopping on Chicwear.com.my I surfed on over and investigated the site. Lo and behold! They are having a sale! So, I checked out their hot picks and picked up a nightgown for a mere RM39 from the normal retail of RM129!
The package came today - in a lovely red box.
And nestled inside, nicely wrapped up in thin tissue and prettily presented, was my nightgown. It looks and feels soft and satiny. The stitching looks well done and the material is slightly thicker than usual satin which I would expect would make for it to fall better.
You cannot beat them for presentation though. I can just imagine how this would look were it to have come as a gift! I’ll review Chicwear.com.my another day. For now, I’m dying to go home and try it on to see if it fits.
StrawberryNet mid month specials
Its the middle of the month of November 2007 (already?!) and I found some deals on Strawberrynet.com that I thought were awesome deals:
Clarins Color Quartet for eyes (Blue Shimmers) - US$19
Clarins Color Quartet for eyes (Copper shimmers) - US$19
Kanebo Revue Still Keep UV liquid foundation - US$29
L’oreal Micro-Dermabrasion Kit - US$12.50
MAC Select Sheer Loose Powder - US$14
This has been some of the better deals I’ve seen yet. I’m personally tempted by the Clarins eyeshadow quad in blue and copper. There’s another in pastel shimmers too. And I personally love the Kanebo Revue liquid foundation. The Kanebo foundation retails for RM125 in stores here, and on Strawberrynet it is now RM98 and maybe even cheaper still if you have loyalty discounts.
New customers who register and purchase, can now get a free Stila makeup item for purchases over US$25. Its not hard to do.
Plus, if you make regular purchases from Strawberrynet, your loyalty discounts will build up to a maximum of 10% off on top of the regular 5% off for purchases of 3 items or more.
I don’t get anything back from Strawberrynet for this plug but if anyone buys the Clarins shadow quad, please let me know how you like it 
Cheap and excellent black eyeshadow
Giddy Tiger over at Kaki Shopping asked me what I have found that is cheap and good, preferably for RM10 or under. Well, GT, I couldn’t come up with anything that I have found locally under RM10. There have been but I cannot come up with anything off hand.
However, one of the cheapest and best black eyeshadow I have used is by Milani Cosmetics, which isn’t found in Malaysia. The colour is Storm which is a dark black shadow with multi-coloured shimmer. Its really awesome.
This was purchased for me by a friend for about US$1.99 (RM6.80) so that puts it in the under US$10 and under RM10 category I guess 
And here is how I use black eyeshadow. If you or a friend has access to Milani cosmetics, grab Storm. Its cheap and excellent!
~ Start Copy ~
Name something you have bought that was worth every penny you spent, and add it to the list below. Feel free to spice it up with a photo or two. The catch is that the amount must not exceed 10 units in whatever currency you are using.
e.g. If you shop in Malaysia, list down something good you’ve bought for RM10 or less. If you shop in US, list down something you’ve purchased for US$10 or less.
1. Gorgeous ethnic earrings from Beadszone (3 pairs for RM10) - Kaki Shopping
2. Excellent black eyeshadow by Milani Cosmetics - All about Shopping!
~ End Copy ~
I’d like to know how these other shopping girls fare in the budget department so, here’s on to you:
Let us know of your fab finds under RM10!
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My Women Stuff- MAC Cosmetics Hello Kitty Collection
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- Stage Cosmetics Voucher Winner
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- Have you been naughty or nice?
- RMK Christmas Palette 2008
- Stage Cosmetics - Malaysia’s first premier makeup brand