Shopping at San Francisco Premium Outlets

They are extending the building on the side of the main street. And they have changed their name, from Livermore Premium Outlets to San Francisco Premium Outlets. Maybe to denote a larger market area.
With their planned addition of more branded stores, this premium outlet could further eclipse the popularity of Vacaville Premium Outlets on Nut Tree Rd., Vacaville.

We are one prime example. We used to drive to Nut Tree, but ever since the Livermore outlets pened, we just go to this one. Distance wise, Livermore is a little bit closer to us at 40.3 miles against 47.1 miles going to Nut Tree.

And maybe it’s not just about the distance. It’s also about the availability of stores according to my lifestyle. My favorite in Nut Tree was the Royal Doulton store, but it closed some 10 years ago.

Fine home stores are disappearing in outlet stores in the Bay Area. Only fashion stuff are available although there are kitchen wares. In Tokyo and New York, there are still some nice home stores in premium outlets. Mahirap naman bumili. Mahirap iuwi sa Pilipinas.

I don’t like to spend money on expensive kitchen wares. I rarely cook naman, maids destroy the gadgets. Maiinis lang ako. Dagdag stress pa.

40 minute drive through hills and valleys

June 20, 2015 Saturday

E———“San tayo pupunta”.
A———“Punta tayo sa outlet”.
E———“Wala naman akong bibilhin”.
A———“Hugo Boss”.
E———“Ayokong pumunta, baka makabili pa ako”.
A———“Pakipot”.
E———“Gabi na tayo”.
A———“Alas kwatro pa lang, alas singko dating natin dun”.
E———“Alas syete dating natin, pasara na sila”.
A———“Five pa lang, assuming dumating tayo 6, you have three hours to shop”.
E———“Kulang yun”.
A———“Three hours kulang?”
E———“Eh magsusukat pa ako. Sabagay isa lang naman ang pupuntahan ko. Dalawa”.
A———“O, eh di split mo, tig one and a half hours”.
E———“Kulang yun, matagal magsukat”.
A———“Hanggang magsara sila, gaya dati, tayo yung last customers”.
E———“Kulang yun, mahirap nagmamadali”.
A———“Eh di bumalik tayo kung hindi matapos”.
E———“Ayoko ko ng bumalik dun, bakit pa tayo babalik? Wala na akong bibilhin, ano pa gagawin ko dun”.
A———“Eh di speed shopping, speed shopping”.
E———“Sige, bilisan mo na, magbihis ka na”.
A———“I am ready”.

I am no longer comfortable when Edmund drives long distances kasi antukin sya. I should watch him, talk to him, e-estoryahin ko para malibang, to keep him awake and alert. Naku, pagdating sa electric fans, hindi ko na alam kung ano’ng nangyari. Nagising ako, we were already entering the parking area. Ang sarap pa la ng tulog ko.

First stop: Hugo Boss

I scanned the items, something for my son sana kasi mahilig sya sa Hugo Boss. It’s difficult to shop for men. Besides, my son bought several long sleeve polo shirts and a suit at the Hugo Boss boutique in Stephansplatz last month. Meron pa syang supply.

E——–“Switart, sa’n ka?”
A——–“Iwan kita dito, bibili ako ng drink, I’ll come back”.

I went to the Designer Fragrances & Cosmetic Co. just very near the Hugo Boss store. Last year kasi this was were I was able to buy Kiehl’s moisturizer.
They only have a few Kiehl’s items. Ang tagal ng hanap ko, to make sure I didn’t miss it.

Kiehl’s has a dog shampoo, maybe good for human hair?

I saw the tv interview of President Noynoy Aquino by Vice Ganda. He/she (ano ba dapat?) asked Pnoy what shampoo he used, sabi nya Mane & Tail Shampoo. Nauso yan dati. The original horse shampoo became so popular it crossed over to humans. Kasi daw pampaganda, fortified with moisturizers at pampabilis humaba ang buhok pareho sa kabayo. Yan pala ang shampoo ni Pnoy. Siguro 20 years ago, naki gaya rin si Edmund, nag-o-order pa kami dito sa America pag umuuwi ang Kuya Lito ko. Kita nyo hindi effective ano? Edmund and Pnoy are proofs.

The sales lady recommended this moisturizer cream. Eh bakit Callous Cream? Puro kalyo na ba ang mukha ko? May wrinkles na may kalyo pa. That’ so sad.

I bought a pair of slippers and walking shoes from Skechers. My very first time to buy this brand for myself. Maybe when Oyen was younger I may have bought her a pair or two.

I went back to Hugo Boss after almost an hour. I found my husband in the dressing room. Bawal daw ang female duon. I assisted him in getting smaller sizes of pants. I saw him trying on two very bright colored pants. Pang golf yan. Nakakasilaw. He’s not done yet so I went out of the store and went around the complex.

I have nothing to buy from Prada. I still have bags that are unused.
Miu miu has tiny purses, kasya lang ang Iphone 5 and lipstick.

No buying of handbags for me on this trip. Why not clothes? Right, dresses na lang. The dresses and shoes are in the inner portion of the store.

I made the mistake of buying a pair of Prada patent leather shoes in HK maybe two years ago. I haven’t worn it. Before I left for the US, I checked its box, malagkit na yung leather, tila magdidikit-dikit na sa humidity and heat. Sayang lang. I should’ve listened to my daughter— not to buy it because I am not going to wear it. She’s proven right. 100%.

Oh eto, similar, I don’t want to buy anymore. Sayang lang.

Oh this Prada pink slip ons are cute. $280 + 9.5% tax = P13,873.65
Italy? Nope. Pero ang mura. Made in China. Ayaw ko. Why would I shell out three hundred dollars to contribute to China’s one hundred trillion wealth, so they could have more funds to spend building more islands in our backyard? Wag na lang. Pass.

Yey eto, I like the color, it’s gray. I like the cut, it’s simple. What size kaya? Kasya ito sa akin.

How much kaya? $1,170 plus 9.5% tax = $1,281.15 x P45.25 = P57,972.03
Actually, the material is thick and has some mix of polyester, that is not suitable for my office wear, mahina aircon sa office ko. Mainit sa atin ano, kikilabutan ako pag suot ko yan. Wag na yan. Pass.

Ay this is so cute. I would look so cute in this. Miu miu. Mumu. Mas mura.
Eto na lang.
$590 + 9.5% = $646.05 x P45.25 = P29,233.76 Ay mas mura talaga. Half the price of the gray Prada dress.

The material is silk. Malambot. Hahakab yan sa tyan ko. Babakat ang sexy body ko. Pag natapunan yan ng liquid, Mag ma-mapa. At saka parang uniform sa school. At saka natatamad akong maghubad para magsukat. At saka na promise ko sa sarili ko na I am not going to use any of my credit cards in this trip. At saka my sister needs lots of cash, na donate ko na pers ko. Only a few are left in my wallet.
Wag na lang. Pass.

I went back to Hugo Boss (two hours). Husband was almost done. I picked a swimming shorts for my son $34.99 + tax.

E——-“Wala kang nabili?”
A——-“Meron eto moisturizer”.
E——-“Ay”.
A——-“You’re forgetting that I just arrived from Europe”.

E——-“Hindi pa ‘ko tapos, pupunta pa ako sa for all mankind.
A——-“Okay”.

I went inside Max & Co. There are more wearable clothes at this time of the year, unlike when we were here last October, all winter jackets.

This soft cotton denim dress looks promising. Pwede pang summer. Pwede pang office. Max & Co. $198. Pwede na. Saan made? China. Wag na lang. Pass.

I had something like this. Ang tagal-tagal kong inisip kung biblhin ko kasi $50. Tapos it disappeared from the labahan.

I was tempted to buy a new one. For my daughter na lang.
$69 or $59 ? Made in China again. Tsk tsk. I do understand that US manufacturers trooped to China for cheaper labor. But times have changed.
Americans must admit that they’ve created not an ally, but a giant competitor sucking up their country’s resources. Not a constructive competitor but a formidable enemy that is capabale of wreaking havoc to humanity if not handled properly. Tsk tsk.

It’s still an hour before closing time. The sun is still up. Eto na lang. Dippin Dots for some sweet refreshment.
I ordered the biggest cup $6.50 and feeling so generous, I gave the young sales boy a $1 tip.

Ang hirap palang ubusin, ang dami. I finished it but my lips became frozen. Namaga ang mga gilagid ko.

My husband was calling.
E———“Tart asan ka?”
A———“Dito lang ako, kumakain ng Dippin Dots”.
E———“Wala ka bang bibilhin?”
A———“Meron, nag re-rest lang ako”.

I didn’t want him to think of me. I wanted him to focus on his shopping for his new golf fashion. Sabi nga nung Pilipina na may pagka slang na, nagsalita sa misa, “We want you to pow-kes…”