Starting the day with a good ol’ cup of joe. Watching busy people doing busy things. Popping in and out of shops, running errands, buying presents for their loved ones, maybe a few obligatory gifts for the boss or teacher, too. We hope they find what they are looking for in the first shop they go to, that it will stay dry for the duration of their outing and that every electronic item they buy comes with batteries included ♥
Do you get your majority of gifts these days online or do you still visit your local shops?
M&L xx
I always bought in locl Shops, because I wanted to touch and see what i buy.
Regrettably I don’t have nobody to make Gifts anymore.
Lost my GF last year. May she live in Peace.
Oh no, we are so sorry to hear that! We send our most heartfelt condolences ♥
Thank you for making us the gift of being here in the Club, sharing your presence with us and the other Club members.
Most shopping on line. The song from the 60’s rings true today “The Eve Of Destruction” one of a kind is found in really small shops. The big stores today carry more variety on line than in the store.
Local shops. I have 3 grandsons so easy to shop for. Just ask parents for a “wish list”
I do most of my gift shopping all through the year while at estate sales and thrift stores. Love to find vintage items that they don’t make anymore but people remember them from either their youth or from the good old days when things didn’t break so easily after you buy them. The only online shopping I do is for the grandchildren since they are 3000 miles away and it’s easier to have them shipped direct to them and save on shipping costs. I will always buy locally when it’s possible since I firmly believe we pay a high cost to society for those low prices by doing most of our shopping at big-box corporate giants that don’t usually have the local community at heart. I’m sure that being a small business owner all my adult life has a big influence on my shopping loyalties.
Shopping mainly online. The stores get crazy here this time of year. It’s drives me crazy! Or I should say crazier!
My usual pattern of Christmas shopping is to wait till the last week, head out to the mall only to discover that all the good stuff is gone, and then hit the thrift shops in search of items whose quirkiness will make up for their valuelessness.
I stimulate the economy mostly online these days.
Now that my kids are adults, we have started a new tradition. We do most of our shopping online and we are having fun texting and emailing each other different gift ideas and deals. We still shop at a couple local specialty stores (the chocolate shop) for special gifts. We found Thanksgiving dinner (USA) more fun because instead of going through all the ads and mapping our Black Friday morning route, we spent the time talking and having a good time.
I’d take spending time with the family over fighting crowds at the mall anytime! 🙂 Some of the video footage you see from American malls during Black Friday is insane! Glad you found this new tradition, it sounds way more fun … and less dangerous 😉
Mona, I remember some crazy Black Fridays. But it seems to have fizzled out this year. The Shop Local Saturday seems to be getting more attention, at least in my area.
I’m really looking forward to your Advent calendar this year. Really loved last year’s. Such a wonderful picture of Mona sipping coffee and looking so relaxed and confident, especially in view of all the work that she and Lisa will be doing to keep up with the calendar schedule until Christmas! If I had the budget I would simply purchase everybody I know a copy of your new Christmas album this year. If everyone in the world sat down and listened to it we may actually have a chance of having Peace On Earth this season. You certainly have done more than your part. Thanks for everything you do 🙂
That is so sweet, thank you Stephen 🙂 Glad you’re following along!
it helps to move the Earth Overshoot Day. This year it was byJuly 29th that we used up all the regenerative resources of 2019.
Earth Overshoot Day marks the date when humanity’s demand for ecological resources and services in a given year exceeds what Earth can regenerate in that year.
I get mine on the second hand online sell sites, like Ebay, 2ememain, Ebaykleinanzeigen or Willhaben because,
Here in the UK they have a Charity (Second Hand) Shop on pretty much every corner and they are just about the best thing ever 😉 It’s great for finding interesting, cheap, clothes, books and vinyl. Buying second hand rocks!
Love scouring through those second hand shops too. Found a lot of priceless things that way. Rubber Soul, 60 year old fountain pen….
Precisely… I tend to find my Purple Clothing gems and Cow/Butterfly/Bunny Rabbit themed stuff at Thrift shops and because I have better luck finding stuff size wise that will fit to my comfort /liking!!
Great picture! All of it. I’m digging the shirts, especially this one. Really cool.
For an old guy with very short legs, Lampibampi sure gets around ?
It is a lovely wish for Christmas preparations, and you’ve stated it so brilliantly. Personally I’m not comfortable with crowds of shoppers and get everything online. With my family spread out around the globe, online makes it easier too. I used to enjoy a cup of joe when I’m out, but now I have my own espresso machine. When I wake up early in the morning, make my coffee while I’m still yawning.
I do most of my shopping online Mona, but still visit shops occasionally, especially when it’s for things I like to try on, like shoes. I have five siblings and we decided many, many years ago that sharing time together with good food, drink and music was preferable to buying presents. This Christmas/New Year, I will be house sitting in a beautiful old ‘Victorian’ two story terrace in Sydney, looking after a dog and five cats.
I still visit local shops
That’s great! We try to do that whenever we can but often still give in to the convenience of online shopping. But we’re all for supporting the local businesses, not just for Christmas ♥
So glad to see Lampi Bampi this year. Doing almost all my shopping this year on line. A lot of it already done.
Love these posts this year! ?❤???
I like the real deal of actual shopping in stores though I do hate Xmas Shopping Insanity crowds in malls… The one time if tear I hate malls for… Lol… Although I started going at 9pm to go shop, not quite as insane unless week of Xmas-Xmas Eve…. I usually now give gift cards, perhaps homemade gifts, or a few store bought gifts but mostly gift cards now…. Though online shopping is handy too, I’m old fashioned, in that I like to still people watch, buy in actual stores, malls, hate the insane crowds in stores and malls…. Maybe when I’m 60 in 10byrs, I’ll enjoy online shopping more… Lol… By the way, a nice photo of Mona captured for Day 2….Luving 2019 Advent Calendar already?
By the time I get around to start Christmas shopping, often the week before Christmas, buying on line would not work, but I am getting better. I usually shop online as well as in the stores. I do like supporting the specialty local brick and mortar shops when I can. Hate to see them all disappear. I do enjoy the Christmas excitement in and around town as Christmas nears, seeing people getting ready with foods, treats and gifts. Looks like lucky Lampi Bampi gets around these days, that’s awesome!
There is something fun about watching busy people doing busy things, isn’t there? Especially if you’re watching them through a window while sipping on a hot beverage 😉 It’s great that you try and support the local shops.
Indeed! Isn’t it more fun taking a guitar around the block at a shop than looking at one online. They know me very well at my favorite pen shops. 🙂 Although I do try to avoid the parking lots around Christmas time if I can. Public transit can be great sometimes. People become like Dr Jekyll/Mr Hyde during the holidays in traffic.
On line. I don’t like crowds. (Unless it’s at a MonaLisa-Twins concert.)
I do a lot of my shopping online mostly on amazon, I buy gift cards so then the people I give them to can buy what they want or need. I work at an elementary school so I give gift cards to the teachers to get what they need for their students and for the rest of the staff I give them candy and Im searching for a local candy store this year to get them something special.
With four brothers and sisters we’ve decided that just being together is enough, but we are also fortunate to still have our parents so we do like to get them something. It’s challenging though; what do you get someone who has nearly nine decades of life experience, and make it a surprise? It usually ends up being a combination of online searching and local purchasing if possible. One thing they never tire of is photos of the great grandchildren, so it’s mainly up to my grandnephews & nieces.