Hey everyone! Hope you are having a great week. If you are among those who have been living through some of those tremendous winter storms, I do hope all is well and that you are safe and warm.
I have just a short post today. If you are among those who left such sweet comments regarding our Our 5000 Mile Road Trip Christmas Vacation, thank you so much! We had such a great time, and we did make a few purchases along the way. The Man and I have made a pact with each other to not buy typical souvenirs when we travel. Why? Well, most of the time, they end up being junk; but mostly because they lose their luster when removed from the setting. You know.....you get them home and you openly declare, "What the heck was I thinking?" So now we pre-empt travel purchases with 3 questions:
1) Is it consumable......can we eat it, drink it or otherwise use it up?
2) Will it enhance our home decor, and I (we) already know where it will be displayed?
3) Is it very unusual, well made, and something we've never seen before?
With those questions in mind, I'd like to share what we did purchase.
1) Is it consumable......can we eat it, drink it or otherwise use it up?
2) Will it enhance our home decor, and I (we) already know where it will be displayed?
3) Is it very unusual, well made, and something we've never seen before?
With those questions in mind, I'd like to share what we did purchase.
If you are a regular follower, then I'm sure you've heard me mention my love for aprons. Well, I found this one at Mt. Vernon and thought it would be a perfect remembrance of our visit here. And, yes, I have already used it!
The Man bought these for me at a street market in Charleston. The design is of "The Tree of Life,"and the artist was just such a lovely lady. The earrings are very good quality sterling and light-weight, which has made them my "go-to" set!
We had lunch in Charleston at a restaurant called "Hyman's," which is a four-generation owned establishment. We didn't really care for the food, but do these people ever know how to do extended marketing! You take one flight of stairs up to the second floor & restaurant, then another flight down, which leads you right through their little gift shop. The restrooms have this salt scrub to use, so I was already sold before I ever entered the shop. I've used (and made) sugar scrubs, but this stuff is so much better! Maybe because it's from "The Holy City!"
Do you know why Charleston is called The Holy City? This beautiful city is known as the “Holy City” because of the prevalence of churches on the city skyline. Charleston boasts over 400 places of worship of many different denominations throughout the city, and religion is deeply embedded in the city's rich culture.
Hmmm.....you will just have to take my word for it that this jug was once filled with beautiful, golden nectar! We stopped at this cute country store when we saw the sign. The lovely ladies who were operating the store, were giving out little samples of the peach cider, and The Man was hooked! Any suggestions about what I could do with this jug? The label is so cute!
At this same little store, I discovered this beauty! I've been wanting one of these for some time, and this one is full and so very pretty. I knew exactly where it would go......above my kitchen cabinets, but that will be for another post!
So what happens when you are "iced-in" in Abilene, TX and can only travel about a mile in any direction from your hotel? You can eat at Denny's or eat and shop at Cracker Barrel's! I always enjoy strolling through their little gift shop but generally just look. Well, when I spied this little "lovely," I simply could not help myself! She has been brewing up some delicious teas and does it in such a cute way -- always makes me smile.
Well, are these not just precious? These were in the same display as the teapot and jumped right into my open arms! I filled one with cinnamon and the other with cloves, which I like to add to my tea.
Well, what do you think? Did we stick to our 3 rules for souvenirs? I think we did pretty darn well!
Thanks so much for stopping by! It's pretty busy around these parts right now, what with "winter visitors," the Waste Management Phoenix Open, and lest we forget.....the SUPER BOWL! I think we will be hunkering down over here in the East Valley and just enjoy the fun from our television. Hope everyone has a wonderful rest of your week and weekend! "Deflate-Gate" or not, I'm routing for
The Patriots.....well, actually, it's all about Tom Brady -- he is just so darn cute!
Sounds like you had a wonderful trip. Also picked up some great souvenirs too, I love that apron. I have a cotton wreath but whenever I put it up it just doesn't seen to fit? Have a great day!
ReplyDeleteThose are great finds, Carol! I particularly like the apron and the earrings -- gorgeous! We went by the stadium last week to show the little guy the Super Bowl preparations, but I'm definitely avoiding that area right now. :)
ReplyDeleteHi Carol,
ReplyDeleteLooks like you had some fun, those are really pretty earrings, and the lil teapot is adorable too, as
well as the other things. We were just trying to figure out when the super bowl is.........usually it is
in Jan.........we know that much, can you tell we aren't huge football fans, course, we usually do
watch the super bowl most years..........lol
Glad you had such fun traveling............
Blessings, Nellie
We are hunkering down also. I don't want to go anywhere near any of it!
ReplyDeleteSorry, wasn't done....I think that apron is adorable. I bet that peach cider was good. We always pick up some when they have it at AJ's. It isn't always there though. Different brand....but still peach!!
ReplyDeleteI am a sucker for farm animals and aprons, Carol, so I think your purchases were spot on! Those pigs are just darling!
ReplyDeleteHi Carol! I love all the cute souvenirs you brought back! Isn't Charleston such a beautiful city? I lived there 3 years back in 1976-79. Lots of great seafood! As for the cider jug, my hubby took the lid off and puts his pennies out of his pockets each night. When full, the brown shiny penny jug looks quite attractive! Then he takes it to Starbucks where he empties the jug into a change machine which counts it and puts the amount on a Starbucks card! Seems like a lot of trouble to me but he likes to do it that way. Thank you for the comment you left on my blog:-)
ReplyDeleteI love the apron the most! and if you grow tired of it, it will great as a pillow too or just framed! I would put coins in the jar - penny souvenirs or coins left on your wallet every time you travel!
ReplyDeleteI am always looking for a new apron so I know that nice ones aren't that common - I think yours is great! I've never seen a wreath made with cotton bolls but it is a super idea; my father used to grow cotton in California. Charleston is a city I'd like to visit someday - even more so now that I've read this blog post!
ReplyDelete(I don't seem to be able to post here except with my Google account, but my real blog is www.gretchenjoanna.com )
You sure got some great things on your trip! Love that apron, and of course it's very useful too. :) I think that cider jug would be so cute as a Fall decoration or even to display year round. Love local things like that. You did good!
ReplyDeleteOMGoodness Carol, you are a girl after my own heart, I think Tom Brady is so cute and will be rooting for the Pats!!! My dil is from Washington so it will be 'fun' to watch the game together :) I love that peach cider bottle, I'm thinking sand with some sweet flowers!! You got some cool treasures and I do like your questions! I am heading to TX in March and will have to remember those rules!! Happy Birthday to your Avery! They do grow up TOO fast!! Blessings, Cindy xoxo
ReplyDeleteLove all your new treasures! That is actually a good plan when travelling. Souvenirs always end up in our recycling bin too and that little voice asks us the same question...what were you thinking! lol You could make a ship in that bottle....just kidding. Perhaps a lamp would be kinda cool?
ReplyDelete