2022 Resolution: Shopping my own bag and SLG collection. Anyone else?

[Katinahat]

2 Aug - brand showcase: A-F
4 Sept - brand showcase: G-L
11 Sept - brand showcase: M-R
18 Sept - brand showcase: S-Z
25 Sept - totes
2 Oct - satchels
9 Oct - crossbodies inc WOCS
16 Oct - shoulder bags
23 Oct - bucket bags
30 Oct - clutches
6 Nov - backpacks
13 Nov - bags that don’t count
20 Nov - pairing bags with shoes
27 Nov - pairing bags with other accessories
4 Dec - bag storage
11 Dec - SLGs
18 Dec - charms

Challenges:
Sept - bags in different locations
Oct - Halloween: wear orange or black bags
Nov - International Merlot Day: wear wine coloured bags or pair bags with wine.
Dec - use the bag.

 

[Cordeliere]

Recently we figured out that it is so much easier to tell them not to clean the room at all and just pick up fresh towels at the front desk. Before that, I felt I had to arrange the room for the cleaners; we travel with our own pillows and if we leave them on the bed, there is a chance they'll take our pillowcase.

I CARRY MY OWN PILLOW TOO!!! I thought I was the only person crazy enough to do that. I have left pillows all over the world. DH threatens to make me wear a mitten string with my pillow. This trip I took my pillow in a chocolate brown pillow case and that saved it from being left in several hotel rooms. I really think I need a bright red pillow case with lettering that says "don't leave me." I carry my own pillow because most hotel pillows are too thick for me and force my neck out of joint. I want mine only slightly thicker than a pancake. I folded towel will do in a pinch, but you can't wad those up like you can do with a good floppy pillow.

 

[Cordeliere]

Haha! We are three hoarders.

Last time in England was the same. The room was a little bigger and we were there with our own car and a trailer. On the first day of our stay we went to a flea market. It started to rain, the prices dropped dramatically... oops...
DH bought several bags full of books plus aluminium pots and pans and lots of little items. DS bought toys. I bought 4 Ikea bags full of shoes, clothes and hats.

It is hoarder heaven. You were made for each other.

The London story is a hilarious image. I can picture you in an old style Western covered wagon, making you way back home. How do you get across the channel?

 

[whateve]

I CARRY MY OWN PILLOW TOO!!! I thought I was the only person crazy enough to do that. I have left pillows all over the world. DH threatens to make me wear a mitten string with my pillow. This trip I took my pillow in a chocolate brown pillow case and that saved it from being left in several hotel rooms. I really think I need a bright red pillow case with lettering that says "don't leave me." I carry my own pillow because most hotel pillows are too thick for me and force my neck out of joint. I want mine only slightly thicker than a pancake. I folded towel will do in a pinch, but you can't wad those up like you can do with a good floppy pillow.

I've found that having a bright or dark pillow case really helps us not forget them. One time we flew to the east coast. We bought pillows once we got there and used them as we drove leisurely back to California.

 

[Cordeliere]

Being in California, ordering from Japan has been great for me. Often items get here quicker than they do from another place in the US, sometimes within 2 days! The US has a rule where we don't pay customs on things under $800, and since I never spend more than that online, I never have to pay it, but lately Ebay has been charging me California sales tax. Often the Japanese sellers will have things a little cheaper than the US sellers.

I will never get over the good old days with no sales tax for online purchases. I resent that online taxing ever single time I have to pay it.

 

[Jereni]

Buffy! Angel! Spike! Drusilla! Darla! Boy, how I loved that show. You’re bringing back memories!

OMG SAME!!!! That show was the best. Esp the first three seasons.

 

[Katinahat]

@Katinahat for the entire triple garlic recipe as per @DME, google washington post garlic bread

room with a view I believe was Florence

So it was! Florence is beautiful. Thanks for the recipe tip.

Same here! Usually I don´t eat breakfast at all. On holidays it´s different. DH wants breakfast, so we all are going and I- being cheap- eat "for the day", but make it sweet! Hot chocolate, endless espresso, croissants, sweat bread, jam, sweet fruit, joghurt, cereal...
I don´t like eggs very much and couldn´t eat them in the morning. And if I ever eat them they have to be totally dry... boiled for 20 minutes or fried to dust.

I the opposite, love eggs. A soft boiled egg with toast “soldiers” was the first thing I ate when coming out of hospital having had the DDs. Giving up runny egg yolks for pregnancy felt like a torture. In my book boiled are only ok in salads or sandwiches with mayo.

I´m scared of buying internationally... customs, taxes and formalities...
Since Brexit even the UK, which used to be a nice hunting ground, is off limits for me. Taxes, customs fees and shipping ruin the prices.
I only buy from the EU nowadays.

I’m the same in reverse and so worry about buying from anywhere other than the U.K. now. Brexit is a disaster!

Buffy! Angel! Spike! Drusilla! Darla! Boy, how I loved that show. You’re bringing back memories!

Wow! Look at those names. Good memories. And I watched Charmed too.

I CARRY MY OWN PILLOW TOO!!! I thought I was the only person crazy enough to do that. I have left pillows all over the world. DH threatens to make me wear a mitten string with my pillow. This trip I took my pillow in a chocolate brown pillow case and that saved it from being left in several hotel rooms. I really think I need a bright red pillow case with lettering that says "don't leave me." I carry my own pillow because most hotel pillows are too thick for me and force my neck out of joint. I want mine only slightly thicker than a pancake. I folded towel will do in a pinch, but you can't wad those up like you can do with a good floppy pillow.

I've found that having a bright or dark pillow case really helps us not forget them. One time we flew to the east coast. We bought pillows once we got there and used them as we drove leisurely back to California.

Me too @whateve and @Cordeliere. Perhaps not to hotels but always when we Eurocamp in mobile home vans (is that a trailer, US?). I also use a dark pillowcase. They don’t give enough pillows and they are grotty. We take our own towels and sheets too as you have to pay for them at each campsite and they are often a bit rough. We usually go to 4+ sites over 3/4 weeks to drive to the south of France and back. The vans don’t get cleaned during our stay so moving every 5/6 days works and let’s us see the world. I love the Biarritz area, the Dordogne, the Loire and islands like Ile de Re. Pandemic stopped these travels but Nice this summer by plane for a few days. Maybe next year we will be back travelling with roofbox on and bikes loaded! We need to get another trip in before DD1 leaves home in 2 years (sniff sniff feeling sad and old).

OMG SAME!!!! That show was the best. Esp the first three seasons.

Buffy fans united.

 

[msd_bags]

@880 when I got to read your post last night (as I was getting ready to sleep), I suddenly had a craving for Filipino breakfast! Since I started baking my own bread during the pandemic, I rarely eat rice for breakfast. But once in a while I’ll have a craving for the full deal - garlic fried rice, sunny side up or scrambled egg and any of the meats - beef tapa, pork longganisa or pork tocino, with the meat dipped in vinegar as sauce! Yum! Lol! Btw, I have progressed to sourdough baking.

@jblended Funny that you mentioned sapin sapin. I just had a helping the other day. It’s been a while since I had it, I really enjoyed eating it again. So good!!!

—-
During my early days in tpf (read: being bag crazy), I had the chance to go to Japan for work for 2 weeks. I came prepared!! I had researched possible bag resellers in the area and I would stroll the areas after we’re done for the day! I went home with a Gucci in (mini or micro?) Guccissima leather that time. And since then, when I have a trip to Japan, I make sure I scour the area for those bag shops! But I’ve not bought from them via ebay because of taxes coming in here into my country!

 

[Cordeliere]

During my early days in tpf (read: being bag crazy), I had the chance to go to Japan for work for 2 weeks. I came prepared!! I had researched possible bag resellers in the area and I would stroll the areas after we’re done for the day! I went home with a Gucci in (mini or micro?) Guccissima leather that time. And since then, when I have a trip to Japan, I make sure I scour the area for those bag shops! But I’ve not bought from them via ebay because of taxes coming in here into my country!

What a great idea! Would you share your favorites? Our current plan is to make Japan our next big vacation destination because the currency exchange is currently the most favorable it has been in decades. That may only be for Americans because our government is raising interest rates which will make our currency strong. (Don't worry folks. No groaning that I have another vacation planned. Not til 2023 so no photo bombs til then). It had not occurred to me to shop for bags. Duh. Any suggestions/advice would be most welcome.

 

[msd_bags]

What a great idea! Would you share your favorites? Our current plan is to make Japan our next big vacation destination because the currency exchange is currently the most favorable it has been in decades. That may only be for Americans because our government is raising interest rates which will make our currency strong. (Don't worry folks. No groaning that I have another vacation planned. Not til 2023 so no photo bombs til then). It had not occurred to me to shop for bags. Duh. Any suggestions/advice would be most welcome.

I love you travel stories!! I’ve not been to Israel, so it was exciting to hear your account.

As to preloved shops in Japan, Komehyo has more items with higher condition rating, so a bit pricier. Daiko-kuya has a mix, also Brandoff. And there are many other stores. Some which I saw in ebay (been years since I browsed ebay) are G-rare, Ginza and some more which I forget now. In Tokyo, there are lots of this type of shops in Shinjuku and Shibuya. In Osaka, a lot of them in Shinsaibashi area. And there are some outlet shops accessible from Tokyo (Gotemba outlet) and Osaka (I forgot the name!) that carry big brands. Maybe if exchange rate is good for you, you may consider visiting them too.

For now, Japan has cancelled tourist visas because of the pandemic. Not sure when it will open again. Or is it already??

 

[880]

I love you travel stories!! I’ve not been to Israel, so it was exciting to hear your account.

As to preloved shops in Japan, Komehyo has more items with higher condition rating, so a bit pricier. Daiko-kuya has a mix, also Brandoff. And there are many other stores. Some which I saw in ebay (been years since I browsed ebay) are G-rare, Ginza and some more which I forget now. In Tokyo, there are lots of this type of shops in Shinjuku and Shibuya. In Osaka, a lot of them in Shinsaibashi area. And there are some outlet shops accessible from Tokyo (Gotemba outlet) and Osaka (I forgot the name!) that carry big brands. Maybe if exchange rate is good for you, you may consider visiting them too.

For now, Japan has cancelled tourist visas because of the pandemic. Not sure when it will open again. Or is it already??

I’m making a note of Japanese resellers, thank you! I think for the US, Japan is still closed (we wanted to visit Japan, Singapore, and the Philippines in September or October) but I’m hopeful that it will reopen again soon. I would be very curious to hear about your sense of COVID rates in the Philippines. I really miss Tocino (not sure if @jblended liked it too lol)

 

[Cordeliere]

Japan is inching towards re-opening. This article gives odds for when it will be open. I find that hilarious. I do plan to get travel insurance for this trip. We don't usually do that. In my preliminary research for this trip, I read that for the peak cherry blossom time, that some places fill up a year in advance. We will go on frequent flyer miles, so if it closes, we will just get our miles back, but I don't want to eat those hotel costs.

Can I Travel To Japan Now? July 2025

Japan reopened to free, independent travel on October 11. Travelers are again able to visit Japan without applying for a visa in advance.

www.insidekyoto.com

Odds of Japan Reopening to Tourism

• May 2022: 25%
• June 2022: 50%
• July 2022: 70%
• August 2022: 85%
• Fall 2022: 95%

 

[Katinahat]

A few months ago, I gave myself some usage targets for certain bags. I was aiming to reduce CPW for some of my newer or less used bags. My main purpose was to reduce CPW before buying more but then DH gifted me the Brioche (do birthdays count?!). I was trying to get to a CPW of under £10 per bag. After that, I had 11 bags with targets on them (including ones I was gifted as I put them in at retail price).

I remember we had a discussion at the time about who does track/think about this and who not. I respect and understand all views on this. I don’t worry about cost per drive of my car for example and I chose to buy expensive bags so in many ways I don’t care. However, I’m a bit spreadsheet obsessed and it’s all part of the hobby for me. It’s perhaps more about increasing usage really and hence shopping my own collection.

Anyway, to bring a long story to the point, I reached the target on one out of the 11 bags today so this post is a small celebration. It’s the Bayswater Tote, 25 carries this year so far, my most used bag. I’ve used it lots for work as it suits just as well for walking or driving commutes. So here’s a little nod to this bag!

Just 10 to go, and several of them are smaller evening or going out bags and have a higher target still so much harder to achieve this with.

 

[whateve]

A few months ago, I gave myself some usage targets for certain bags. I was aiming to reduce CPW for some of my newer or less used bags. My main purpose was to reduce CPW before buying more but then DH gifted me the Brioche (do birthdays count?!). I was trying to get to a CPW of under £10 per bag. After that, I had 11 bags with targets on them (including ones I was gifted as I put them in at retail price).

I remember we had a discussion at the time about who does track/think about this and who not. I respect and understand all views on this. I don’t worry about cost per drive of my car for example and I chose to buy expensive bags so in my ways I don’t care. However, I’m a bit spreadsheet obsessed and it’s all part of the hobby for me. It’s perhaps more about increasing usage really and hence shopping my own collection.

Anyway, to bring a long story to the point, I reached the target on one out of the 11 bags today so this post is a small celebration. It’s the Bayswater Tote, 25 carries this year so far, my most used bag. I’ve used it lots for work as it suits just as well for walking or driving commutes. So here’s a little nod to this bag!
View attachment 5396006
Just 10 to go, and several of them are smaller evening or going out bags and have a higher target still so much harder to achieve this with.

I've never figured out cost per wear, although I probably should. Some of my items were bought at bargain prices so I know the CPW is low on them. I don't carry the more expensive bags more than the bargain ones. In fact, I tend to love the bags I got at a bargain more.

 

[Purses & Perfumes]

A few months ago, I gave myself some usage targets for certain bags. I was aiming to reduce CPW for some of my newer or less used bags. My main purpose was to reduce CPW before buying more but then DH gifted me the Brioche (do birthdays count?!). I was trying to get to a CPW of under £10 per bag. After that, I had 11 bags with targets on them (including ones I was gifted as I put them in at retail price).

I remember we had a discussion at the time about who does track/think about this and who not. I respect and understand all views on this. I don’t worry about cost per drive of my car for example and I chose to buy expensive bags so in many ways I don’t care. However, I’m a bit spreadsheet obsessed and it’s all part of the hobby for me. It’s perhaps more about increasing usage really and hence shopping my own collection.

Anyway, to bring a long story to the point, I reached the target on one out of the 11 bags today so this post is a small celebration. It’s the Bayswater Tote, 25 carries this year so far, my most used bag. I’ve used it lots for work as it suits just as well for walking or driving commutes. So here’s a little nod to this bag!
View attachment 5396006
Just 10 to go, and several of them are smaller evening or going out bags and have a higher target still so much harder to achieve this with.

That's great that you were able to reach your usage target with this bag -- I love the color! I don't need another tote at present, but if I needed one, I would get the Bayswater tote as it sounds like a sturdy bag that is also not heavy. I love that you are able to use it both for walking as well as driving commutes. I don't track cost per wear, but just try to rotate my bags as best as I can.

 

[Cookiefiend]

A few months ago, I gave myself some usage targets for certain bags. I was aiming to reduce CPW for some of my newer or less used bags. My main purpose was to reduce CPW before buying more but then DH gifted me the Brioche (do birthdays count?!). I was trying to get to a CPW of under £10 per bag. After that, I had 11 bags with targets on them (including ones I was gifted as I put them in at retail price).

I remember we had a discussion at the time about who does track/think about this and who not. I respect and understand all views on this. I don’t worry about cost per drive of my car for example and I chose to buy expensive bags so in many ways I don’t care. However, I’m a bit spreadsheet obsessed and it’s all part of the hobby for me. It’s perhaps more about increasing usage really and hence shopping my own collection.

Anyway, to bring a long story to the point, I reached the target on one out of the 11 bags today so this post is a small celebration. It’s the Bayswater Tote, 25 carries this year so far, my most used bag. I’ve used it lots for work as it suits just as well for walking or driving commutes. So here’s a little nod to this bag!
View attachment 5396006
Just 10 to go, and several of them are smaller evening or going out bags and have a higher target still so much harder to achieve this with.

Congratulations! I love a good tote!

I love keeping track of wear (and keep track of CPW just for curiosities sake)... I don't know why necessarily, but sometimes we do things just because they make us happy.