Purchases
When I go on a trip, I’m not necessarily the type of person who has to buy something to bring home. That said, if I find something with a local flair, then I’ve been known to make a purchase. In the past, my trips to the Cape included purchases from one of my favorite galleries – art for my then-new condo. These days, purchases have changed in flavor and focus.
My first shopping excursion started when my gal pal and I visited this great little shack on the wharf in Provincetown, Blueberry Lane Pottery. There, we met Paul, the owner/artist and saw some of his lovely creations. I bought a thank-you gift for my aunt + uncle (ice cream bowls!), a spoon rest as a gift for our neighbors who took in our mail while we were gone (plus one for us plus one for the baby’s mamas), and this great olive oil dispenser (see photo below) that I would be proud if it was accidentally left on the counter instead of being put away.
We then went to a few touristy stores in Provincetown (also known as P-town), where I purchased salt water taffy (so reminiscent of Cape Cod) for our neighbors and a few shirts for my niece (and niece-to-be). I think the Mom’s shirt will either be loved or hated by the moms (wish me luck when I give it to them this Friday), but the others will be a big hit!
A few days later, Sweets, my mom and I headed into Wellfleet to do some more shopping. My mom was very insistent on buying a little something for Grasshopper. She showed me three options, but the one she wound up purchasing was far and away the winner. Also pictured here is a little something I bought for Grasshopper. Every baby needs a library of books and what better way to start it than with a Cape Cod version of a classic?!
My mom and I headed on to a couple galleries, leaving Sweets behind in this seemingly kids-only store. When we caught up with him later, I realized he got lost in music. And wound up purchasing, oh, five or six CDs for our ride home. It was perfect, though. We always talk about listening to more world music. And Putumayo has a series of really amazing CDs. The six or so he purchased only touches the surface and certainly made our 19-hour ride home much more relaxing!
And while I’m on the subject of purchases, I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention a couple of extraordinarily generous bloggers. The lady behind Life According to Mel Heth sent us this adorable Grasshopper onsie. And the lady behind Skrinkering Hearts gave us a pair of running shoes for the little one (never too early to start, right?!). I cannot thank these women enough. I only wish they didn’t live in LA and Boston, respectively. Though, I won’t hesitate to say that we should definitely meet in the middle (i.e., Chicago!!!!) from time to time. heheheh.
So, there you have it. We bought a few fun things on our vacation. Now it’s your turn to tell me about your shopping habits when you’re away on vacation. Do you tend to buy keepsakes at all? Are they specific reminders of where you traveled or do they fall into another category, such as things you need, clothing, etc???
August 11th, 2010 at 8:19 am
Shopping on vacation is the best way to capture a place that you love. Hubs and I tend to buy a piece of art when we shop. It tends to be a photograph or a painting from a local artist. We bought the first one in a little tea shop in door County a few years back. We have a painting from the two stops on our honeymoon and are still contemplating buying a photograph we saw in Maui.
When I was single, I used to buy a piece or jewelry. So I have a few pieces from Spain, Greece that I still wear.
August 11th, 2010 at 9:05 am
I love to buy dorky t-shirts from wherever I go. The sillier the better. I also like the idea of jewelry!
August 11th, 2010 at 9:15 am
You got some great buys. I love the 2 moms shirt -- very Ptown. I forget the name of the store, but I got got a wonderful seascape painting in Ptown about 6 years ago.
I get cheesy shot glasses wherever I go. They sit on a shelf and collect dust, but I like them.
August 11th, 2010 at 9:18 am
I love Putamayo CDs! They are so much fun. They instantly transport me to another time, city, place, etc.
I usually allow the photos to be my presents to myself on trips but sometimes I’ll get a cool t-shirt/tank top, or a piece of jewelry, depending on where I am. (I tend to go tropical so these things are more fun to buy.) Occasionally I’ll splurge on a piece of clothing from a boutique if the mood strikes, something I can’t/wouldn’t get or buy at home. Just depends!
LOVE the olive oil dispenser. Seriously.
August 11th, 2010 at 9:20 am
The little sneakers are so cute! And do they make the Pee onsie in adult sized t-shirts? Because that would be awesome.
Also LOVE the olive oil dispenser. Definitely a great buy.
Most places I go to I do like to get something as a keepsake to remember that I went. It’s usually something I can use or wear. Which basically means I may have a bit of clutter laying around my apartment which needs to be cleaned out! ;)
August 11th, 2010 at 9:41 am
oh my god, i love the “pee town” onesie! too cute!
so glad that you liked the little running shoes!
and YES!, now we just need to convince melissa to get to chicago in october! did you know that justrun will be there?! sounds like we may need to organize a little bloggy meetup!
August 11th, 2010 at 9:41 am
It’s kitschy but, I like to get a snow globe from wherever I visit.
Those are some cute baby clothes!
August 11th, 2010 at 9:41 am
Oh and I covet that olive oil dispenser. I love to pick up stuff from local artists where I visit.
August 11th, 2010 at 10:19 am
Fun! Love that olive oil dispenser! And all the purchases, really.
When I am on vacation, I tend to buy a coffee table type of photo book… Not on every vacation, obviously, as you can only have so many books like that on your coffee table… But if I really love the area, I will buy one so I can have photos around as a remembrance of that time. Other than that, I tend to not shop much on vacations since I am always flying there so the space contraints keep me from buying much… :(
August 11th, 2010 at 10:49 am
I always feel like buying super touristy things on vacation --magnets, mugs, random things that are really cool in Asia but don’t translate here — are a waste of money. Souvenirs can be so expensive and they usually just sit cluttering my desk until I accept I need to throw it out. But usually while I travel I find a few things that either I need, or will actually function. During my mediterranean trip last summer, most people spent their money on shot glasses and snow globes and I spent (albeit a little more) in a leather jacket. But I wear it all the time and love being able to tell people, when they compliment it, that I bought it at the bazaar in Istanbul. That makes it worth the extra cash. That and the fact that tis awesome! My husband and I also like to buy art when we’re out of town, something that will work in our home but will remind us of being away…
August 11th, 2010 at 11:19 am
I am not a big souvenir person, but I do like browsing stores that carry things you don’t always see in the US. Recently I haven’t bought anything when traveling though, because we have no money.
August 11th, 2010 at 11:48 am
LOVE the olive oil dispenser. Very cool.
When CP and I first got together, we would mainly buy magnets and small things (I was still in law school and thus on a tight budget). Now that we are running out of room on our fridge, we have decided to switch it to Christmas ornaments.
But when we take a big trip (Maui/Argentina), we buy something special. We brought a bunch of stuff back our honeymoon in Africa. The framing of the prints was WAY more expensive than the actual art, but it reminds me of our honeymoon every time I look at it. :-)
August 11th, 2010 at 12:17 pm
I hope they love the moms shirt. I think it is great!
I sometimes buy a magnet when I travel. Or maybe a shirt. But I just like to take lots of photos!
August 11th, 2010 at 12:21 pm
I LOVE that Meg got you baby running shoes. Adorable. And btw, your thank you card was so beautiful! I want to put it in a frame -- loved the birds on it.
I like buying souvenirs if they’re unique and interesting (like your olive oil container). I tried to buy something in every country we went to last year, but I’ve definitely dialed down the California trip purchases. Now we just buy wine! :)
August 11th, 2010 at 12:31 pm
Eei! I love the little grasshopper onsie! SO CUTE and perfect for your little babe :)
August 11th, 2010 at 2:06 pm
Such great purchases and gifts. Love the grasshopper onesie!
August 11th, 2010 at 2:32 pm
No matter where we go -- even if it’s a staycation we always buy a little something to remind us of our “trip”. I dunno, I like reminiscing about stuff like that.
August 11th, 2010 at 5:03 pm
My vacation purchases are usually t-shirts that I never have the heart to get rid of because they hold the memories of that trip. Maybe I should just stick to photos, my closet is bursting. ;)
August 11th, 2010 at 7:59 pm
I love all your purchases, particularly the olive oil dispenser! I love getting a charm from the places I’m visiting, its a great reminder of where I’ve been and different trips.
August 11th, 2010 at 9:55 pm
I love shopping on vacation! It’s so fun to see the different, unique things that you wouldn’t find in Chicago and definitely not downtown. That olive oil pourer looks great! I love the mix of colors.