My favorite part of this week was going to Paddy’s market which is only open on saturdays from 10am-4pm. Since I was little when i would go on trips with my mom she would always tell me not to buy tee shirts on vacation. I think from her point of view it was the same thing as giving someone a gift card. Its getting something just to get it. Everywhere we went she would tell me about the shoe lady. A friend she apparently had (who I have still yet to meet) that instead of buying tee shirts or sweatshirts would buy a new pair of shoes everytime she went to a new place.
Although when I was little it seemed a bit ridiculous and I would go to the store with my dad to buy the tye dye tee shirts and Cape Cod lifeguard sweatshirts I wanted I have grown to understand what she meant and started getting jewlery everywhere go. It helps me to remember everyday the places I have been and I am wearing a piece of jewlery from experiences that have helped shape who I have become.
My watch was my Moms, my necklace a baptism gift, my Claddagh ring was from the cliffs of Moher studying abroad in ireland, my permanenet bracelet matches with my mom and my sister, my right middle finger was from a trip to Amsterdam with my best friends from Ireland, my right ring finger is from cape cod where I go every year with my family.
At this market aside from the 3 large ice coffees I purchased I was able to get a ring for my left index finger and a bracelet to wear with the permanenet bracelet. My little sister will be getting a bracelet from this trip to add to her stack as well which she has yet to see despite the begging. I decided to switch it up for my mom this time and got her a paiting from a local artist which will not be pictured in this blog (i know your reading this mom Im not spoiling the surprise) to hang in her new office. Although she loves jewlery I think what I’ve heard most since I’ve been here about her new job is her dilike for the sterile look of her office. My dad will not be receiving a gift from the market as he is and always will be a teeshirt guy but i will ncontiue to be on the lookout for one that suit him best.
I count my spending guess as accurate as the only thing that pushed me over was in fact the 2nd and 3rd Ice Coffees. But since we didn’t pay for transportation there and I didnt buy a smoothie that morning I technically saved $15…. So with girl math my total was just in budget!!!!
- Ariana C.
Love that you found your own way of remembering the places you’ve visited. I can’t wait to see my surprise souvenir!