By accident, I came across Kirby Allison as I was searching for a solution to my bags that had been scratched by my cats, among other things. I’m mourning the lost immaculate look of my leather laptop bag so I went to search for some solution or bag restorer to do it. I’m not exactly sure if Blackwing would be able to do it although they posted on Instragram they will be launching bespoke leather bags for women (yey!).

So anyway, while I was searching for some answers, Kirby Allison popped up in my search and I watched his video of how to restore his Italian leather portfolio bag (which is essentially an overnight bag) and got sucked into his world of being a well-appointed gentleman. Reminds of the movie Kingsman, but just the well-dressed part.

Now I am no longer skimping on the important stuff because I see that I spend more if I buy the cheaper brand (hello, American Tourister!). If I can afford it, I will have most of my things custom-made or local so I can have them repaired so they last for decades. My black leather Our Tribe is still going strong even after 8 years and I just had the hardware repaired for minimal cost. Their HQ/factory is just 300m away from my apartment. It’s not showing any signs that it’s about to give up on me and I think it will outlive me.

My pleather binder/Filofax is custom in the sense I chose the color and the hardware and the style. Made in Mandaluyong. Going strong and it still looks new. I’m so happy with it that I want to buy this item for family and friends for Christmas. I want to buy their real leather notebooks and binders next but one thing at a time…

So this afternoon my girls and I went to SM Marikina to buy them sports shoes because the ones we bought from Decathlon no longer fit. Yes. No longer fit. I should have gotten them pairs that are one size bigger. Oh well.

We also bought other stuff in preparation for the face-to-face school comeback, which will happen next month. So they have been completely online since last month and then they will transition to hybrid next month. By November, everybody should be physically in school.

I also bought my nephew (my youngest sister’s son) a new backpack because I saw that National Geographic backpacks are 50% off. It’s lightweight, waterproof, and has good padding on the straps and the back—essential for students carrying heavy school books. This isn’t technically a school bag but rather it’s a travel bag for roughing it. But there’s no difference between the kind of abuse school bags and travel bags of backpackers receive when in use.

New spill-proof luncboxes ✅ for the girls and new bedsheets. ✅

Then we had dinner at Calle Reyes again because 1) I don’t want to cook anymore; 2) that’s the restaurant that’s not crowded.

I gave Twin I my new red Himawari backpack that I used as my hand-carried luggage for my trip to Singapore. I realized I can no longer use backpacks for traveling because my back nearly killed me on my way back to Manila. The entire time I was walking around Changi, I just pushed my backpack on a trolley, which defeats the purpose of using a backpack. LOL! So for future travel, either I just carry my light-weight laptop bag or bring my Rimowa cabin-sized four-wheeled luggage so I will not be lugging my heavy laptop around.

Or buy this.