24 October 2010

Window Shopping. Only.

I spent a little time out of the house on this unexpectedly beautiful 74 degree autumnal day.  Can you say, 'pleasantly surprised that the cool windy breeze of the last few days were gone'...at least for the day being.

So where do I head off to?  Why, the mall.  Of course!  Warm weather. Sunday afternoon. Sounds like a mall outing to me.   Several stops during my stroll. thought that I'd share my finding with you. 

Here it goes!...

First stop.  A vendor who was perched just inside the foyer of the mall entrance.  I like just about everything retro.  So when I discovered this old fashioned milk crate filled with 'throwback' treasures circa 40's and 50's, I was giddy with excitement!  Reminding myself that this was a 'window shopping' expedition.  Only. It was beyond difficulty to restrain myself from giving and making a small purchase.  How can I pass up the vintage cola poster and the 'ohh sooo' sassy pin-up babe with the killer mantra?  Convincing myself that the pinup poster will work fabulously in my office, I promised to return on a later date to make the purchase.  {Fingers crossed that it doesn't get sold before I get back.  Is is considered a purchase if I give the vendor some money to hold it? Hmmmm}.  For now, I'll refrain and walk away {sad face}.


Onward and Onward!  Waylayed by the 'foyer vendor', I could now move on to the more important 'window shopping'.

I must confess that all of my mall hopping excursions usually begins with a stop at the shoe stores.  Can I tell you that I swooned for more than thirty minutes when I spotted these whimsical beauties?  What's not to luv? Right?  But I had to remind myself {in gentle but persuasive conversation} that today was,  unlike other shoe spotting outings, meant to be  a day of 'window shopping'.  Only.  So I walked reluctantly away pouty but proud that I had stuck to guns and kept to my plan to window shop.  Only.


Onward! & Onward! ...again...

I knew that I had to get farrrrrrr away from the retailers who were more than willing to indulge me with their 'foot candy', despite my resolution to 'window shop'.  Only.  So I headed in a different direction.  Toward the first novelty shop that I could find.  I should be able to stay out of trouble there.  Right?  Entering with a renewed sense of committment and a belief that I was safe in this environment, I wandered eagerly into this inviting space.  I was doing just great until I hit the back of the store - where all of the past season's {read summer} unsold items were available...ON SALE!  And what did my wandering eyes did appear?  These 'cuties'.  How can I resist these 'beyond luv-ly' leather kid-friendly backpacks.  They would make great a great holiday gift for my grands.  And with a price tag that read 'reduced' - how could I go wrong? Right?
"You're window shopping.  Only." {the voice in my head}.  These I definitely have to come back to get!

~ ~ ~

There were many more stops, sans a purchase.  Interrrupted by a quick trip to coffee shop to fuel up for

more 'window shopping.  Only.'   Luv my Venti Mocha Frappacino ala Starbucks!  Followed by more shopping and a rewarding visit to the bookstore...

it has this nostalgic little nook that I realllly really like hanging out in.  The cloth-bound books transports me back to my elementary school days when I could not wait to visit  the school library to check out its treasures....{the memories}  


Fast forward, four hours...my has that much time gone by.  {and not one retail purchase}
Now, I must say that, as challenging as it has been, I have been a very good girl.  I have complied with my resolve to window shop.  Only. 
 After four hours, of window shopping. Only.- I would say that it is absolutely time for dinner!  And, although the convenience of eating at the food court is quite enticing, this outing needs to be topped off with a delicious, flavorfully filled, palette-pleasing meal {Fuji Apple Chicken Salad with Broccoli Chedder Soup...add the french baguette} from one of my favorite places to eat {when I am solo}... Panera's Bread.  Chow!



What did you do today?  I'd luv to read about your day.  


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