My favourite activity in the land of consumerism (Los Angeles ver)

The worst part of travelling, unpacking :(

What I really hated about shopping in the States (getting the complaints out of the way first haha) was the STATE TAX.

I visited California and New York, unfortunately one of the highest state taxes in the 50 states. Surprisingly (to me), New York was slightly lower than Cali. In LA, I averaged 8.875% state tax (it ranges up to 9%) and in NY, I think the highest I paid was 8.5%? Mind you, I only looked at larger receipts to check the state tax, I knew it was gonna be around 8% and above, so at that point it didn't really matter.

I did research and you can't get your state tax refund :( Information from here

Why is the state tax so high? Well, cos both LA/NY are huge states/cities (duh) and the city needs money to maintain their streets, etc, basic government stuff. In LA, the one thing I missed the most about Singapore was our nicely paved roads EVERYWHERE. My trip to Studio City (I was visiting the Warner Brother's lot) I was in a taxi that tried to take a shortcut, but we wound through cliffs and like super curving roads!

I suspected some B (or even A)-list stars stayed there cos it was so difficult to get to, plus it was near Beverly Hills. But my focus was on not throwing up so I only managed to glimpse the scenery at times while frantically popping altoids.

But yeah, I digressed. SHOPPING.

In la, I managed to hit 2 outlet stores. One called Citadel, which is only a 20 min car ride away and you can grab an uber to get there or take a bus from downtown LA!

Cotton candy clouds ^^

Citadel Outlets
100 Citadel Drive, Suite 480, Los Angeles, CA 90040
Here's a link of the directory map, you can also check out what brands are available there!

For tourists, visit the Customer Service centre to get a VIP Savings card! It helps a little, especially when you're helping to buy for friends! The outlets were linked, so for the other outlet I visited, I could use it again. I didn't really use it much tho because you usually had to spend a qualifying amount to hit it, but it's good to have just in case. It also lasts for a year before you have to get a new one.

American brands that are usually at the outlets (that are also cheaper as compared to Singapore retail stores)
- Kate Spade
- Coach
- Michael Kors
- American Eagle
- Under Armour
- Uggs
- Marc by Marc Jacobs (who knows where that brand is gonna end now)
- Aeropostale
- Polo Ralph Lauren
- and even more. These are just off the top of my head that I can recall!

A brand that I realise isn't much of a difference, retail vs outlet would be Tory Burch. I bought a pair of flats from the outlet for probably only $50 difference. The irony was that I drove 2 hours to get to the outlet because there was no where else to get them and I paid more for the car rental than for the savings. But overall, compared to Singapore, it was still cheaper! ^^

Me at Ralph's (a grocery chain) with the largest JUG? of Starbucks haha. With my new Kate Spade bag! Pardon the messy hair it was the end of the day and we were exhausted.

Things to note when shopping in outlets (that I've learned from personal experience, research)
- brands have started to make "made for outlet" stuff. This is stuff that you can't find in their normal stores. Examples of this would be Kate Spade, Michael Kors, Coach, MBMJ (to name a few, also these are the ones that I was looking at so I did research haha)
- There is absolutely crap reception within the stores. As mentioned in the previous post, I got a SIM card that allowed unlimited international calls to Singapore. So, I called my dad and friends who asked me to help them get stuff. THE ANNOYING PART: When you enter the store it immediately becomes "No Service".
- The outlet stores are huge. As in, the layout is spread out widely. Even starting the day early, we couldn't really finish Citadel in one day. But we knew we were gonna check out Cabazon (which will be mentioned later) so we weren't too worried.

Image credit

Cabazon Outlets
48750 Seminole Drive #100
Cabazon, CA 92230

There isn't much at Cabazon, you can check it out for maybe an hour or so? Then head over (or start with) Desert Hills Premium Outlets!
48400 Seminole Dr, Cabazon, CA 92230, United States
Here's the link to the store listing and directory map!

Image credit

I'm sure your eyes are bugging out as mine did when I saw the list of stores!!!
That's also why I was so willing to rent a car and drive 2 hours to get there hahaha.

***BONUS***
Haha cos I don't have much info. But I was in the Beverly Center the other day with my friend shopping, and I overheard this conversation in front of me while I was queueing to pay at the cashier.

Customer "does this mobile coupon work in-store?" *shows cashier something on her phone*
Cashier: "Yep it does."
Me *frantically googling 'bath and body works coupon'. I was directed to a site called retailmenot and the coupons work!!!! So, I managed to get 20% off my entire purchase because I overheard the question #cheapskateasianforthewin And I got $10 off my next purchase (not related to the first purchase, but cos I googled again and it was a new coupon).

So, if you go into any larger stores/chains, it's a good rule of thumb to see if they offer any mobile coupons/discounts! You never know where you may end up saving money! The best thing about these coupons that I've found is that there is hardly any qualifying amount to spend before savings (for Bath and Body Works, that is)

So, I hope this helped! Your wallets will be lightened, but in the best possible way HAHAHA. I'll do a food post in both NY & LA next! ^^

*Oh, and just something weird I noticed. There isn't much finger food available along the shops at Citadel, so I got Auntie Anne's (pretzels, which we also have in SG, and is from USA) and they're at least 2x more expensive than Singapore. I checked them out at malls too and they're the same price.

Why is is so that the homegrown brand is cheaper overseas? It's even cheaper in Malaysia!!! Hmmmm. Food for thought. And with that, I'm off to drink my watermelon juice. Have fun shopping! :D

"I'm gonna shop till YOU drop"

Sick for five days straight

Have been sick from Friday up till now.

stuck cooped up at home during the first few days of my holiday, what a nightmare.

Went to the clinic on Friday.

The doctor told me that feeling light-headed and dizzy was a result of my fever.

He then prescribed me with a antibiotic that i had severe side effects to.

So I went back to ask him to change the prescription.

Granted, he didn't know because I didn't tell him.

I forgot!
I took that anti-biotic the last time and had severe nausea and diarrhea.

I stopped taking it, and also forgot to note down the name of the drug.

Forgetful me!
So, I paid the price by waiting for the doctor to come back from his lunch break.

And I was freezing cold but I didn't bring a jacket. win.

So i got my meds re-prescribed,

and i went to collect them. So many of them.

Reached home around 2plus, took my meds and slept for an hour.

Only slept an hour cos I had to go to school!

Even though it was the last day of school, I had a presentation that I couldn't miss!

My History Of Film :(
So I went.

I love my class, all of them asked me if I was okay.

Although of course I did look sick, being pale and all that.

Went for MMR cos Ms Lum tweeted that she missed me! Awwwwww :P

So I presented for CDF (Certificate of Digital Film) for my History of Film module.

Then I went to the GenEd Forum that was being held at MLT 8.

By invitation only, heh, and being one of the top two MMR teams, we were invited.

And my dad urged me to go too, as there was Nicole Seah from the NSP speaking there.

So I went. I was curious!
But I missed her speech cos I was presenting. It started at 5.15 and we ended at 5.45.

Sigh.

So I stayed till 6.45 till I really couldn't take it, I was trembling in the LT.

I went home and slept with my contacts in for more than 12 hours.

I totally forgot to remove them!

I've been wearing contacts since I was 13, and I'm 18 (soon) now.

5 years, and I've never forgotten to remove them.

This is a testament to how sick I was! :O

So I had a fever for the first day,

and 40degree fever for the next 3 days, AFTER taking that infernal doctor's medication.

Which made me feel like vomiting the whole time.

But I resisted vomiting my meds cos then what's the point of taking them? :)

When Monday arrived and I still wasn't well, I was pissed.

I told my mom that.

She asked if I wanted to go see another doctor,

and I agreed.

I honestly felt on the brink of death.

It hurt like hell to swallow.

I have large tonsils, and this makes me prone to infections.

So I usually have tonsillitis.

This time round, it was far too long for my usual bout.

So I went to see another doctor for a second opinion.

By the time I went to see the second doctor, it was Monday night as I missed the previous consultation hour by 15 mins ._.

But man, this doctor is GOOD.

He was my family doctor (more on that next time, this is already a very wordy post :O)

And he diagnosed my condition right on the spot.

Turns, out, I had pus on my tonsils.

I know, right. PUS. ew.

He gave me anti-biotics, and medicine to reduce the swelling! (which the ass of a doc previously didn't prescribe ._.) and meds for my runny nose and phlegm. And lozenges that I'd actually suck on.

Essentially, I got better in a day after this doctor gave me the meds.

I am alive and blogging about this, instead of lying in a hospital bed.

His anti-biotic worked, the pus is (almost gone)

One more dose to go and its all gone!
YAY *happy dance*

Had work today, gawd, i hate the sales period.

That's all I'm gonna say on the subject :)

Going to do photography for nEbO for YES 2011 at NUS tomorrow,

and my class BBQ on sat! :)
I'm really looking forward to that!
I wanted to stay over but they planned another friend's birthday on the same day ._.

So I'm gonna have to leave early. :(
But I'll go early to make up for it!

Alright, time for bed!
And kudos to you if you've made it this far down my super long and wordy post!

Xoxo,
Kayleen (who's recovering!)