Indie clothing, indie lifestyle and indie fashion

This seems to be a rough year for many people with lots of retrenchment and financial turmoil for many industries. People are changing their lifestyles to cope with turbulent times as things continue to look bleak in the new year.

Personally, I have been looking at low cost term life insurance rates and other ways to streamline our financial spending in the coming year. It looks like I would have to shop less and consider other creative means to cut cost in my lifestyle. Perhaps it’s a good time to learn how to knit or sew since I’ve always wanted to create my own clothing. I foresee that the indie design market will become popular as more people turn to making things with their hands. This may also mean that more people may discover their inner talents and turn indie designers during these difficult times.

This is one Christmas where I find myself late in buying Christmas gifts and slack in getting things done. Previous years, I would print my own handmade Christmas cards with my Macbook and laser printer but due to the busy family vacation, I haven’t had time to create anything of my own.

Now that it’s Christmas eve, I may be able to design a couple of Christmas cards for some closest friends around me. Have yourself a blessed Christmas.

I didn’t know that the weight loss pills industry is so big here in Asia until I started to see so many advertisements in magazines and billboards. This Christmas, these companies are offering special packages to those who are after a slimmer and slender body.

This morning was a good break when I managed to shop for some new gem jewelry by Brenda Cheah in Takashimaya before heading for the salon. Brenda is very creative in combining different gems and semi precious stones together. She sure has a way to give those simple gems a contemporary and classy look without overpowering the person wearing it. I’ve always love gemstones especially those orange corals and oriental jade. If you like artisan jewelry like me, shop online at NOVICA – Handmade Artisan Jewelry from Around the World.

With all these eating and partying this Christmas, I would better get on to an elliptical once the season is over. I was shopping this morning in a local mall and was so happy to grab some half price buys. Alldressedup has always been my favourite line of casual yet professional line of clothing and it is hard to resist the good buys. This is just in time of the Christmas season as well as the Lunar New Year celebration next month. Next few days will be Christmas shopping for my big boy at home and my family.

Shopping with the las vegas strip map can be a breeze if you are prepared to go for a Christmas shopping spree. While we were in Tokyo and Hong Kong, we find it much easier to get around with a map of the city.

Sometimes, I wish there is a indie shopping directory in any big city to promote indie designers, creative artists and artisans. Unlike Australia and New Zealand, it is hard to find flea markets which promote indie works in these urban cities. If you are tired of all the mass production gift ideas, shop online for indie stuff at Novica.com.

I had just returned from a three weeks holiday to Japan and Hong Kong and opposed to what many of friends thought, I did not go for a big shopping spree in these two cities. Last year, I rewarded myself with a Cartier watch but due to the slow economic outlook in the last few months, I had decided to delay my dream to buy a Patek Philippe watch.

I went around looking at the Christmas lights in town this evening and the light up was beautiful. Perhaps you may want to add a personal touch to your Christmas gifts this year and create your own work. Whether it’s a handmade card, a hand knitted hat or a hand patched quilt, nothing means more than a handmade gift idea for your families and friends.

So get those creative juices flowing and start thinking of what you can do with your hands and get as personal as you like to be!

Despite the poor economic forecast for the new year, I believe many shoppers are busy preparing for the coming Christmas. Whether you are shopping in the malls, in your favourite stores or shopping online, do take advantage of all the sales, discounts and promotional offers in the retail stores.

This is probably a time where you can burn calories from shopping in the busy malls and skip your alli pills. But if weight is not a concern, go online shopping in MaxStudio and get a $20 off any purchase above $100. I love the casual chic lines in MaxStudio. I bought a bamboo cotton dress last year and loved the softness of eco bamboo cotton. So if you are still wondering where and what to get for this Christmas, head down to maxstudio.

Find the perfect gift with the MaxStudio.com gift card

Finally, my brother in law had bought himself a new 16MB iPhone and a cell phone repeater and it looks like the only thing he needs now is a nice iPhone cover.

I search in Etsy for some iPhone covers and sleeves and it seems that there are more options for ladies than for men. Somehow, ladies tend to be more particular when it comes to finding a nice cover or packaging for personal belongings but men are more simple in that sense. But for a neat and tidy finish, this iPhone sock will be great for both genders. Find it at Etsy.

I really wish I have more time in Tokyo so that I can hunt around for good indie designer clothing in harajuku and aoyama. I have been told that there are many cool and creative indie designers in the area but somehow, locating them can be challenging when I am not proficient in the language.

We are into our third week of our family vacation before heading back in a few days’ time. I have a long list of things to do when we return including settling my home insurance, personal bills, family errands…etc. So I apologize that I haven’t been very regular in my posting as it is hard to keep things in check when I am traveling. Shop indie this Christmas!