Liliw, We Meet again!

I have mentioned on my last post, that we are planning to buy our Christmas shoes at Liliw. and last weekend, we did!! We visited the Shoe Lovers' Haven again. This time, we had more time I think, and we know where to go now, since it's our second time. We were able to buy 21 pairs of footwear for less than 4000.00 pesos, 2 pairs for each of us, we're 5 and some pasalubongs for office mates and family. I failed to take pictures, so I just grabbed 2 photos from my sister. I was too busy looking at all those shoes and forgot to take pictures. haha.

My new pair of wedges. I like orange as of the moment, so there you go... :) I think this is 3 inches high. I bought this for only PHP 320.00

Here are all the Footwear we bought this time. It's more affordable if you can buy in bulk, they sell in whole sale prices. 

Affordable Shoes? Go to Liliw Laguna!!

It's my youngest sister's High school graduation, and she needed a pair of black shoes to wear on the special day. The problem is, her shoe size is too small (size 4 1/2) and we're having a really hard time looking for decent shoes that she can use. She needs one she can also use in College so she prefers a wedge. Someone told us, we can try going to Liliw Laguna.

Liliw is known for those affordable and durable shoes/footwear and with small and half sizes. So two weeks before graduation, we decided to visit the Municipality and look for shoes not only for her but for all of us. We have to make the most of it. It's still a 2 hour drive and we won't always be there.

Mama and Papa on our drive to Liliw. Too many zigzags.

When we arrived, I was amazed with the shoe stores just next to each other, so many colors, so many designs to choose from! Is this heaven?? lol!

Here's a sample of what we saw there. Almost all stores are this full of footwear and it made it really hard to choose.  .

My sister excited to buy her new pair of wedges.

Me posing with hundreds of shoes. I haven't really decided what to buy.

The Giant Slippers :)

After spending almost half of our day going to and fro searching for the best deals and prices... here are what we bought. A decent pair of black shoes for my graduating youngest sister, yellow wedges for my younger sis, black wedge sandals for myself, nude wedges for mama, 2 pairs of leather slippers from Badong (A famous shoe store in Liliw) for papa, Black Open toe slip on for Inay (lola) and wedge sandals for my tita's Birthday. We also bought a couple of floral slippers for pasalubong :)

The footwear we bought I'd say are really affordable. The price of the wedges, (which clearly is a favorite in the family, haha!) ranges from 150.00 PHP - 400.00 PHP, Similar shoes here in San Pablo would cost almost double, plus they have a lot of sizes :). The Leather Slippers I think is around 200 PHP. And the floral slippers cost 3 for 100 PHP. I would recommend it to anyone. It is truly a shoe shopping haven! We enjoyed our trip to Liliw, and we are planning to go back there for our Christmas shoes.

Frugal Living: My Story

I was born in a family who’s not financially inclined, but I would say we were never deprived. Our parents made sure we get what we need, and some extra. They also did a great job in showing us how life is really like, and I am thankful they did! It has helped me a lot growing up and until now. We were raised in a way that we understand the value of life beyond the material things we can buy. This developed the frugality in me :). 

Being the eldest daughter (we’re three beautiful gals), I have to always be resourceful so I can help my parents even in my small ways. I’ve set my goals straight as early as Elementary days and that is, to graduate in College no matter what and get a good paying job. Then help my parents. My father then was a tricycle driver and my mom is a house wife. We had our ups and most of the time our downs financially, I have witnessed and experienced how hard life is, but these were not reasons to give up. Our parents did everything they can and we should too. We were sent to public schools, but this is not a problem at all! We just studied hard and we were on the top section, I learned a lot too! I enjoyed High school a lot! We applied for scholarships in College and luckily, we finished College (me and my 2^nd sis) without almost paying for our tuition fee. I usually have packed lunch then to save for the projects and some part time jobs too. It was an awesome College experience. I don’t always have money to buy stuff but I always find a way, I have to! These experiences led me to frugality. Well, I graduated in College and landed a job, but I still am frugal. It’s now a way of life than a necessity. :)

Some people perceives being frugal as being deprived, but I think it’s the other way around. Being frugal for me is being resourceful, careful, penny-wise. You can actually have the things you need without costing you a lot, if you just check carefully. It’s having a lot of options with limited resources. If you are frugal, you are most likely to learn how to make things than buy things and eventually even earn from it. Who say’s frugal can’t be trendy ? J. I make my own accessories (and sell accessories); I cut my own bangs haha, I repair my clothes, I love trift shops! (You can be your unique you J). I also cook what I want to eat (that’s cheaper that way). So I think deprived is far from being frugal. You don’t have to deprive yourself, you have a choice! Go first for the things you need. You don’t want to spend everything in one item, if you can get more than that. I have basically everything I need and I get to save. That is the best part.

Well, that is basically my story. I just wanted to write something about it since the blog is about cheap chatting. Haha. So long!

Kamay ni Hesus, Lucban Quezon Surprise Getaway!! (All Saints Day 2012)

(Disclaimer: This is a photo loaded entry :D)

A long weekend is like a dream come true to me. Having been in the BPO industry for as long as I can remember (lol! Since graduation), I really seldom experience long weekends. And when the admin announced we'll be off for 2 days for All Saints Day and All Souls Day (Wednesday and Thursday) I immediately filed a leave for Friday and then my usual day off is weekend so that makes it a very long weekend. It's the first time I had 5 days off since I started working if I remember it right and I've got to make the most of it! :) My 5 days was spent bonding with the most valued people in my life: My family. We went to malls, we of course visited lolo and lola at the cemetery, I even made a flower arrangement myself. from flowers picked from the garden and Baby's Breath, which I think is the only cheap flower you can buy during the Halloween season (I'm not even sure they're flowers XD) Here's a photo. I'm really not good at flower arrangements, but I tried my best :)

OFF TOPIC: I just wanted to post it din. harhar!

Now the main topic. It was an enjoying weekend indeed! To complete the experience, it would be great if we can travel somehow. It was Friday when Papa told us his friend invited him to join them go to Kamay ni Hesus in Lucban Quezon on Saturday. We're like, that's tomorrow!! And we cannot decide if we will go or not. Well before the end of the day, we decided to go anyways :). Kamay ni Hesus is known for it's peaceful environment best for pilgrimage. Tourists go here to attend mass and enjoy the view.

THE CHALLENGE: Go to Kamay ni Hesus with a super limited budget. haha! We agreed that no one will buy anything. We are going there for the Mass and yes, for the view. This is our first time and we're all excited!

That morning of Saturday, we prepared and packed our supposedly breakfast so we won't have to buy food there. It's a 2 hour drive from San Pablo Laguna, and we arrived there just on time for a walk/climb on their famous Stations of the Cross while it's still cold. Here are our photos.

Me and my youngest sister at the entrance of Garden of Eden

Adam and Eve

There's this cute pond up there

Yes! you have to climb this, Good Luck! :)

That's me on top, I made it!!

Papa and Mama and NOAH's ARK this is my favorite

Noah's Ark isn't complete without the animals.

Us, after Mass. Well, we bought ice cream naman.

All in all, we really enjoyed the trip! Trips not planned are even more exciting :). We managed to not spend much, just the gas and the ice creams and we went home happy and contented. You really do not have to spend much on this kind of trip, the view alone, the relaxing environment and the people with with me is enough to enjoy. I look forward to going here again.

Oh and by the way, here's a map to Kamay ni Hesus! Map To Kamay ni Hesus

Black Crocheted Collar Necklace

I have posted the first collar necklace i made, (Mind you, I did not follow any pattern for that, I think, I am improving in my crocheting skills). I also posted a photo on my FB page and surprisingly, many liked it. yeahiiy!!! I let my sister borrow it and she wore it to work. Here's the exciting part! Her office mates liked it and ordered some. I did not expect I can even earn from this. but this time here's the photo of the first collar necklace I sold. I'm just soo happy. I have sold several PERSONALIZED collars now. They decide what color combinations to use so I'd say it's personalized. :D I haven't written a pattern yet, but if ever anyone's interested to know, just send me an email and I'll try my best to make one. wehehe...

My first client wanted her collar black. I just added some beads and a cute button on the center.