My name is Erin and I buy magazines for the gifts.

Just got back from ユニクロ. It took pretty much all I had not to buy out the store. I don't know what comes over me when I go there. But today found everything super cute. I held back on some of the unnecessary but walked away with everyone's winter must-haves- HEATTECH tights and tops. Have discovered ユニクロ sizes have also expanded since I last lived here. There's now XL in womens wear which if I remember correctly didn't use to exist. Which is a bad thing really because it was the limited sizes that was keeping me motivated to exercise! What's also a bad thing, on the shopping front, is these bloody bonus gifts in magazines. Since around September, I think, all matter of magazines have been offering 'free' gifts with their mag. I now own a ユニクロ bag (mag was all in English so very happy with that one), a BAPE army print watch (quite nice really), a HELLO KITTY tote (who wouldn't want one anyway?) and a 3 pack purse set of some brand I've never heard of called 'Hamburggirl'. Settled on 'Hamburggirl' after realising it was bloody stupid to buy the 'See by Chloe' magazine just for the pencil case and pen when the magazine cost almost 2000yen. It was also after that purchase that I had to have a word to myself and say NO to any more magazine purchases. I have fooled myself, however, into believing the purchase is two-fold in that I can study Japanese at the same time. But really, who am I kidding? I have a 'free'-gift-with-magazine problem and I acknowledge it!

100yen heaven came up a treat after I ransacked ユニクロ though. I got myself a little mat to pop under the computer so it doesn't slide (not that it ever did really) and a very cute little wicker bowl to pop bits and pieces in. Both items I didn't know I needed. Again. From 100yen.

Stay tuned...