ah yes, such exciting news!

i feel i must share this news with everyone! i was so excited when i found out, i didn't know what to do w/myself! are you ready for an announcement that brought such joy to my heart? ready? really, are you ready? here it comes........COACH IS OPENING A 2ND STORE IN VANCOUVER! yes, ppl, you read right. this fabulous handbag, wallet, luggage, everything-you-could-buy boutique is opening up in oakridge! it's taken the place of bombay company that was across from danier leather. unfortunately i don't know the exact opening date, but it's COMING SOON! needless to say, my young sister-in-law is equally excited about this news :-)

i really love oakridge now. i remember when i was a kid, my family used to go eat at this restaurant that was actually in the mall.....they had the best schnitzel :) back in the days, the "food court" consisted of a boston pizza (i think), a&w, and a deli-like place. the only reason we actually went to oakridge was because the bay was there. or maybe back in the day it was still woodwards. whatever.

now, oakridge has become a high-end mall catering to the west side demographic. these are the ppl who can actually afford the homes on the west side, along with the vehicles that should be parked in the (minimum) 3-car garages. yes, perhaps i am jealous and a bit cynical now that i'm in burnaby, and will never reside in vancouver again. what's not to love about a less than 1,000 sq. ft. condo? anyhoo, back to oakridge.....the lacoste store just opened recently, too, and tommy bahama is opening soon in the old club monaco location. i'm going to need more money so i can afford to keep up my shopping ways......ah well. life is good.

oakridge is one of the few places where you can shop and feel like a grown-up. i was at metrotown during the week, and i always have mixed feelings about going there. the mall tries to be higher-end by having stores like lululemon and banana republic, but whenever i walk around, all the teenagers-wanting-to-be-grown-ups creep me out. they walk around in their "skinnies" or hip-hugger pants, or short-short skirts, matched with their midriffs exposed, with dark make-up and bright lipstick. these are the young girls that shop at garage clothing and sirens :P i just don't understand teens anymore. when i was a teenager, i wore denim pants up to there with casual t-shirts. now, teens walk around with high-tech cell phones, pagers, blackberries, and compete for the best dressed (or trailer-trash).....i'm not sure anymore.

i'm not saying that i'm some fashionista and can judge everyone. far from that! i think ppl can flaunt their good qualities in a not-so-gross kind of way. perhaps it's because we're getting older and wiser, or perhaps it's because i shop for quality, and cheap just doesn't cut it. i'm not saying we all need to shop at coach and banana republic, but hey, would that be so bad?