Distaste: Cross border shopping taxes and Nordstrom sales people

I previously posted about my missed opportunity on the See by Chloe Rise & Shine cross body bag. Determined to find it, I picked up the phone and started calling Nordstroms in the Michigan area where I eventually stumbled across a seemingly helpful salesperson at Twelve Oaks Mall, who located one for me.

Since Diana and I have sorta become experts on cross border shopping, and on which shipping methods incur the least customs and duty taxes, I requested the bag be shipped a certain way.

Unfortunately, the Nordstrom sales person didn't listen.

A yellow UPS notice waited for me at the door the next day, with a Brokerage C.O.D charge of $165.71!!!!! What?! Was the decimal point put in the wrong place? How could this be? $165 is nearly $200! Why?

Well, there was no way I was paying $165.71 on customs and taxes! INSANITY!
I had to decline the package.

Annoyed at the sales person for not having listened, I called Nordstrom. Her manager nonchalantly told me they'd refund the bag and the shipping, upon receiving it back. Not much of a consolation for me, I really wanted this bag! (These sales people should know how women are with handbags. It's our lively hood.)

Well, I got my refund yesterday but I'm still pissed. While Nordstrom messed up, it's insane that Canadians are treated unfairly with absurd taxes. Our countries are so similar, and so close, I just don't see why it's necessary.

::: Nathalie

Love Cats? How About Fashion Parodies?

If so, this site's for you: http://thecatorialist.blogspot.com/

Drinking cold coffee and kinda hating my life,
D

Branching Out

I love the first line from Nylon Mag's article announcing that leSportSac is coming out with a shoe line: "What's a bag without its sole mate?" Ha!

I'm not a huge fan of leSportSac, but I do enjoy that this affordable line often collaborates with designers for new and interesting merch. From the first look pics, looks like some of the stuff could be promising.

-D

Review: Ojon Products

I'm not very nice to my hair.

It's naturally black, but I dye it light brown. It's not quite wavy, so I'm constantly straightening or curling it.

After speaking to a coworker about how dry my hair is, she suggested I try Ojon products. A couple of months ago, I purchased Ojon's Hydrate and Restore Collection.

Likey:
• It has exceptional moisturizing properties. All of Ojon's products are formulated with Ojon Oil, which is known for it's restorative properties.
• No more tangles, which is suffer from when I decide to curl my hair.
• Depending on whom you speak to, the smell. After a couple of weeks, I stopped using the products and gave them to my Mom. She went on and on about how she loves the smell, but I didn't really enjoy it that much.

No Likey:
• After washing my hair, I found that Ojon products made it look kind of greasy. My scalp felt oily too. While I hated this, my Mom was into it because she has a super dry scalp/hair.
• It's kind of pricey. Doesn't matter where you look, this stuff costs a lot more than most hair products.

Overall:
While I wasn't too keen on these products in the end, I can understand why some people are obsessed with it. It's probably amazing for those with coarse, curly hair and I know it's good for those with dry locks. I'm one of those people who can't function if I feel like my scalp or hair is greasy, so I wouldn't recommend it for those with hair related OCD tendencies.

Grade:
From me: C
My mom: B+

Going back to Pantene Brunette Expressions,
D

Why I Hate My BFF (Volume 1)

Ok, so I don't REALLY hate Nathalie, but I have issues.

I've struggled with my weight and am currently the reigning queen of yo-yo dieting, while Nathalie has effortlessly remained a size 2.

While we're only a year apart, it seems that she's transitioned into being an adult much easier than I.

But these things don't really bother me. What drives me crazy is her ability to overshadow me with accessories or clothing, no matter the occasion.

A few weeks ago, I acquired the delicious pink Michael Kors watch pictured on your right. I drooled, Nathalie drooled, even her husband Geoff drooled. All in all I felt pretty good. Today we took a trip to Holts (where I was accosted by a sales attendant, but that's another story for another day). Nathalie returned a Christmas present and traded it in for the gold Michael Kors watch pictured under my pink one. WAAAAA. So much nicer than my watch and I really wanted it too! WAAAAA!

Good thing we're BFF and they gave her extra links for her watch, cause you know I'm gonna be stealing this baby for a borrowing session one of these days.

Peace Out.

Admittedly Jealous,
D

Bag Lust

Even if the recession is over according to the media, I'm still crazy ass broke. I saw a financial planner the other day who pretty much told me that if I want to meet my goals, I gotta earn more money simmer down on the spending. Standard advice, I know, but it still hurt. WAAAA.

What hurts more is knowing that I can't afford this delicious Alexander Wang bag right now. The closest I'm gonna get to it is via a JPG on my desktop. WAAAA.

I'd post an image, but I'm at work and for some reason my computer hates my guts.

P.S. For Canadians who have a penchant for 'luxury' online shopping but hate the customs and fees that come with shopping in American sites, here's a tip: Visit SSENSE. They're based in Montreal and have great shipping rates.

-D

Filling Our Closets with Free People

We have a shopping problem, which I'm sure you're aware of if you've read this blog.

Till Monday (tomorrow, hurry friends!) Free People is having 25% off all of their sale items. Here's a few images of what we purchased.

Diana's Shopping Cart:


Nathalie's Cart:


xoxo,
Diana & Nathalie

Get Naked

M.A.C's Blissed Out Nail Lacquer

With a preference for dark and crazy colored nails, I was surprised to find myself drawn to a nail polish so close to my skin tone (from M.A.C.'s new Warm & Cozy collection of muted pinks and browns). Impressed how it complimented my olive skin, I also picked up a tube of Light That Fire! Lipglass.

Nothing like the pick me up of new cosmetics.

::: Nathalie

Beauty Tip: OPI's Start to Finish Formaldehyde Free Base & Top Coat is awesome for making manicures last long.

House of Harlow: Metal & Leather Wrap Bracelet

I loooove this bracelet.

Where are you?

How is it possible that in the vast world of online shopping, this bag is sold out everywhere?! I am going bananas here and have wasted half my afternoon looking for this bag. If anyone sees it out there, let me know! It's the See By Chloe Rise and Shine Cross Body Bag in black. *sigh.

::: Nathalie