The H&M-Riyadh Experience

Isa ito sa mga kina-reer ng PT girls…

Opening sign outside Sahara Mall luring all H&M lovers

The Pink Tarha Girls (minus Mary who’s now in Pinas) met after work for our most awaited day, the H&M opening. We decided to check out the Sahara Branch and arrived around 5:30PM. A little bit late for excited shoppers I know, but we had to wait after office hours (mga working girls naman). We still did our best to be there the earliest we can. The ride to the mall was the most dreaded part, since the roads to Sahara Mall are under renovation. Perfect timing.

Our elevated pulse rates was the result of running towards the store after getting out of the car, plus the excitement of finally making it on the opening of course. We were welcomed by Mickey Mouse (Can you believe? See post below) at the red carpet entrance. A handful of shoppers were already there. Wala pa masyado kaagaw. We got our baskets quick and we were just so ready to explore the store and find the items in our list. This however, was cut short due to prayer time and we had to wait for half an hour before proceeding to our shopping again. After prayer, floods of people came. The store was as we expected it to be. Loads of springy-summery basic tops, shoes and accessories adorned the shelves and racks. We literally wanted to pass out, confused by all the pretty stuff surrounding us. What should we check out first?! If there’s one thing that would stress us really, this was it. Who would have imagined shopping would be this difficult? Haaay.

I also visited the Riyadh Gallery Branch about 3 days after the opening. There you’ll be welcomed by Superman (Filipino version) with mattress foam-like abs. I thought I’ve seen everything, but then there’s always something to lure you at H&M. Reason why we love the shop. Di nauubos ang maganda, LOL.

As promised, here are my H&M loot from both branches:

Cardigans and cool basics

Gingham print shirt

Tunic tops in light grey stripes and dark grey

Red-orange smock

Skirt in blue-black-cream palette

Accessories in black and white

My faves, black gladiator sandals

Bagged all the goodies here

One thing's for sure, we can't get enough of H&M.

My Weekend Finds

The Wednesday rush to Debenhams was chaos! With Eyecandy23 reporting the status of shoppers at the Kingdom Centre, I just didn’t have the energy to brave the crowd. Add the fact that most of the people you compete with the nice stuff are people you recognize from work! I guess the mere thought of digging through piles of disorganized racks exhausted me already. So instead, I went to my quiet and peaceful shopping haven…Topshop. The decline of shoppers was obvious, since all of them were in Debenhams, Kingdom Centre at this time. Shopping behavior is quite predictable, I know.

Topshop, Sahara Mall

I rarely go out of Topshop empty-handed, that’s for sure. Here are some of my finds, modeled by Carpio the Teddy:

Topshop Grey wool and off-white caps, SAR20 each

Having the chance to go out again on Friday night, I had my fair share of the Buy 1, Get 1 promo but not from Debenhams. This time from Oasis, Granada Mall. Here are my Friday night finds:

Dorothy Perkins Grey knit blouse with cream bow detail, SAR 50
Oasis Scarves, SAR 35

Topshop Sleeveless dress, SAR 25

What better way to conclude the winter (and year-end sales) but with Saturday morning rain, gloomy skies and morning traffic! Since we only get rain twice a year, this was yesterday's surprise...

We're all motivated to go to work today...*lazy*

Official Holiday

Just when The Pink Tarha Team thought that they’ve seen the best of the year-end sales, they are badly mistaken!

The most-awaited Debenhams Buy One, Get One sale starts today! Seeing this announcement in the local paper disrupted us all at work big time! Sino ba namang hindi matataranta o makapagtrabaho ng maayos nito? It made us all want to rush to Sahara Mall, Kingdom Centre and Granada Mall where all three branches of Debenhams are located.

Debenhams is a famous British retailer of different designers and lines (Matthew Williamson, Topshop, JohnRocha to name a few). Haay, it’s only 10AM, 6 hours to go before work is over…

Today should be declared an official holiday!

Why do we love Saudi Arabia? You answer.

The Pink Tarha Team will give you updates on this post regarding their best finds from this weekend's sale.

Can't Resist

Frequent mall visits during the sale season is expected and encouraged. But during the regular-no-red-on-window days, all I get to do is to note on the nice stuff (shoes are priority) my favorite stores have. But when you see these in the stores, you just can't help but buy even if they're not on discount!

New Look, Hayat Mall:

"Your feet look gorgeous", yeah I believe you.

River Island, Sahara Mall:

Even if my closet has no more space for them. Hmm, maybe I can keep some in the kitchen?!

Those marketing strategies are working with me alright. Any other victims?

Confessions...

I didn’t want to go to work today. I’ve been feeling lonely with this thing going on at work lately that I just wanted to experience that “ignorance-is-bliss” feeling. Just as well, I’ve been bugging my aunt to go shopping with me since last week and when she called last Tuesday eagerly asking me to join her this Wednesday (which is a workday) for an all-out shopping bonanza, I jumped right on. I still had a free day from our Eid vacation last year so I decided to make use of that one day today.

This post is titled so because I didn’t tell my girls what my real reasons were for not going to work today. I’m afraid this whole situation at work is eating me up and I just wanted to be with someone that wasn’t involved in all of it. Don’t get me wrong, I love my girls…but being away for a day I guess was something I just felt I wanted to do. I'm sorry guys, I hope you understand. =s

^^
Moving on....

A short backstory on my aunt: She’s a hardworking nurse married to an equally hardworking nurse. The only difference is, my uncle is SUPERDUPER thrifty. It’s admirable to a tee, but sometimes, I just want my aunt to have a little fun with her hard-earned moolah. Being a nurse in Riyadh is hardcore. RESPECT and REPRESENT to all the nurses out here. The off-days are as precious as diamonds, and to think that my aunt has a one-year boy to take care of at home as well…go figure.

So, just imagine our excitement to be running wild in the mall as early as 9am! Yes! You read it right..9 A-M. We practically opened the shops. My aunt is really the one who’s gonna do all the shopping. I’m there only as a guide, enabler, gossip girl and for my own escapist indulgence. We roamed most of Sahara Mall with dropping jaws at the massive sale. All stores with big RED signs, (like the one you see here from ALDO) declaring their intentions for us to practice our incapacities as consumers and minions of the capitalist movement.


My aunt got loads of stuff! Mostly for her baby boy and the rest for herself. We had lunch at one of my favorite places to dine: Tony Roma's. We ordered the Tony Sampler (half serving) and my favorite Kickin Shrimp* for appetizers. Roma Rack Ribs for me and Rib Eye Steak for my aunt. I also tried their Bahama Mama cooler drink.

The Roma Rack-Bountiful Beef Ribs with sauteed string beans with garlic. I tried their signature sauce of Tony Roma's Red Hots. Spicy..just how I like it. 65SR. Good for the hungry.

Rib eye steak..Medium rare for my aunt. 12 oz. of pure American BEEF. I think this was around 72SR. Good for three petite ladies.

My favorite, Kickin Shrimp. It's tempura-like prawns served on a large margarita glass with chopsticks for you to eat them with by poking the shrimp and putting it in your mouth…what’s not to love? 30SR. Good for two.

The Tony Sampler consists of Buffalo Wings, Spinach Dip (heavenly) and TR's signature Onion Loaf (basically a onion rings' cake if you will). With fresh celery and carrots to boot. At 45SR, it's a good price. ;)

Meet the Bahama Mama..really a pink drink. Made out of various fruit juices. I found it too sweet for my liking but I bet the teeny boppers will love it! 15SR. Can act as dessert later on.

^^

We thought we were as full as a pregnant cow but all the shopping left to be done was enough to burn all the calories we ingested. We finished around 5:30 PM and just waited for the limo to pick us up.

Oh, and I did a teeny weeny bit of shopping myself. I’m disappointed at myself because I already got two new shoes since the year began, and its more than what I need, really. But—BUT—you know what I’m gonna say ladies. A girl can never have enough shoes! Aaargh! I first saw these red court heels and decided that the other pair in black may need an adoptive parent too. So I got them as well. Oh, and I also got a good find for my brother.

The red and black court heels are from Peacocks. Price before: 120SR Now: 40SR (each). The jeans are from Next which I got for 65SR from its original price of 200SR.

I was huge fan of Super Mario and now I'm regaining all that mania back with my brother's Nintendo DS which he lets me play with from time to time. he enjoys Mario too, so I got him this vintage-y Super Mario shirt from Next also...Before 120SR, then 80SR, then when I was gonna pay for it at the counter, the guy said it was now for 40SR!!

Retail therapy much?

Actually, tinipid ko ang sarili ko kasi may lakad kami nila Mama sa Mamlaka tomorrow. We’re gonna go to the Skybridge! Finally! (Coincidentally, Shoegarfreeruby blogged about it just now). We'll see if there will be more shopping madness tomorrow. But for now, I'm feeling relieved. And that was my goal.

Goodnight reader.
:)