What's Inside P's Bag

I like bags. I seem to collect a lot over the years. But most of them are hanging on my wall, rarely used. I don't know why but I seem to use the same old bag over and over again. There's something comforting about an old reliable bag... and the fact that you know that your keys are right where they're supposed to be.... I'm a bit of a scatterbrain and I often lose my keys, have a mini panic attack and sigh in relief when I do find them... Eyecandy is actually afraid I might develop OCD because of this. Therefore, only one bag for the whole work week... unless I have time to swap bags...

And there are those bags that speak to you... like love at first sight, you zero in on this lovely bag and you know that you can't leave the shop without it... it beckons... it teases... until you throw caution into the wind! Yes, that's what shopping is like for me... it's a guilt trip cum therapy of sorts.

To tell you honestly, brand is really not a big issue for me. Like this bag... it's unbranded... I bought it at Jarir of all places! But it's roomy and has a lot of pockets-- it even has a pocket that fits my iPad! It's durable, it looks like the type that would look wonderfully vintage in a few years... something that I find appealing in leather bags... and the indisputable fact that it pulled me out of my morning stupor.

So what's in my bag? I normally carry around a water bottle, my keys, makeup kit, toiletries bag, wallet, ID, flash drives, iPad and iPhone and of course data cables. It's pretty basic to be honest... 

Of course you must never go out without your wallet and your documents! The most important things I always check before I leave any place are my wallet, my iqama, my medical insurance card, my keys and my phone pouch (with the phone in it!)

Ohhh, I love the fact that I can do almost everything with my iPhone. I think they have every app imaginable to make life easier. Hahaha! The only thing I can't do on the iPhone is read my PDF books (screen is too small)... so that's why I have an iPad. As an online student and a bookworm, it's just really convenient to have all of your textbooks and modules in this really thin package! I just love it! ^_^

And then there's my make up kit. I love make up! It may not seem obvious because I don't glam up a lot but I do keep a sizable stash with me... and I carry it everywhere I go...  I am a self professed MAC fan. Majority of my makeup is from this brand. I have products that I just use in the morning and keep on my dresser and I have some that I bring everywhere!

Clockwise from left: MAC Strobe Cream, Satin MAC Red Lipstick, Vegas Bolts Lipstick, MAC Liquidlast Liner, Lustre, Lipglass, Red Lipliner, MAC Select Cover Up concealer, MAC Studio Finish Concealer and MAC Studio Fix Loose Powder. 

I love to use makeup brushes... well, not all... just those that I can figure out... like that blush brush that I won't replace or that MAC brush that I so love. But as much as I love makeup, I am utterly clueless about color... thus my very safe color palette of browns and nudes for my eyeshadow..  The only color you'll find in my face is my lipstick. That, I can blend! Hahaha!

I also have a stash of toiletries in my bag. Again, pretty basic stuff like mouthwash, toothpaste, portable toothbrush, hand sanitizer, nasal drops, Strepsils, pain relievers, anti-histamine tabs, a comb, a mirror, lotion, some pins and wet wipes.

So that's what's inside my bag. They say you can glean a lot from what's inside a person's bag (my best friend likes to "kalikot"  my wallet too... hehe). I often wonder how people would read my personality based on my bag's contents. Hahaha... Would you say I'm a little OCD?

Hmmm, I wonder...

Sampaguita Pride

Pink Sampaguita

Ohhh my first post! Hmmm... where to start? I suppose I should start with how I eventually became a Pink Tarha lady. ^_^

Well, it all started out as a THESIS proposal for grad school. Yes, really. @.@

I was supposed to propose a study related to Development Communication... (stuff like poverty, gender equality, sustainability, etc....) but I have this aversion to research and my brain automatically shuts down when I hear the word thesis... so I ended up proposing a gazillion number of topics, each of them irrelevant to my course. *nosebleed* Of course my prof rejected them and urged me to think out of the box.

Then!  *light bulb*

Hello, Pink Tarha! I've been looking at all the wrong places, when the answer was right in front of me! Di'ba I was friends with E? And she's part of this group of empowered women who debunks the common misconception of life in Saudi Arabia! Plus, my prof thought it was a really interesting topic related to my course! Yay! Approved topic! Yay!

I did a lot of background research on Riyadh as a restrictive society. I interviewed the PT ladies about their blog and how it evolved into a lifestyle guide, empowering their readers with their witty and kikay posts. My topic and research eventually led me closer to the rest of the Pink Tarha ladies... It just amazed me, how these ladies had so much energy and zest for life in Riyadh. Something that I did not allow myself to experience.

Hanging out with E every week, and meeting the rest of the ladies, opened my eyes to the possibilities that Riyadh had to offer... if only I would open the proverbial door.

So when I was offered a chance to contribute and be a member of The Pink Tarha... how I can say no? Actually, it was more of: How many ways can I say YES!? How can I say no to something that will enrich and empower me during my stay in Saudi Arabia? :)

  

So here I am and loving every moment of it. :)

Since The Pink Tarha is a collaborative blog, we each get to contribute topics that are close to our hearts... I'll be posting about health and wellness. Basically anything that will help renew the fabulous YOU! Think exercise routines and do-it-yourself beauty remedies (that I personally try), charity work, personal improvements and what-nots... and of course food and shopping (definitely, something all the PT ladies have in common!) 

So let's renew ourselves by soaking up the Arabian sun like Sundrenched, spreading love with a smile like Eyecandy, basking in all of life's simple pleasures like Shoegarfreeruby and drawing out our dreams in this sandbox called Riyadh... Let's live life to the fullest!

Here's to an empowered year, ladies!

Much Love,

Sampaguita Pride <3

P.S.  I got 1.25 for that thesis proposal. Oh di'ba bongga. :)