My US Shopping Spree

Hello, my name is Benita. I'm a shopoholic.

I'm not really. I hardly ever shop for pleasure back home. But coming to the US always brings out the shopper in me and once a year I can finally get everything I've been wanting all year long.

Such as the cleaning supplies from Williams Sonoma... Makes cleaning a joyous occasion and not a chore don't you think? I also got two cans of Bar Keeper's (and my) Friend.

I'm not really all that big on scent around the house but occasionally I get the urge (or, ehem, need) to add some to the air. There's a Yankee Candle store in KoP mall and they had these little cute stocking stuffer sizes so after getting dizzy in there I brought home a Beach Walk, a McIntosh Apple and some Clean Cotton as well as a votive each of Spa Fresh and Mandarin Cranberry.

 

I'm completely low maintenance on the beauty side but decided to invest in some Id Bare Minerals, a new Kiehl's No1 Lip Balm, a new tweezer and a coin purse (technically not a beauty item but it found it's way into the shot somehow). On the last day (after I shot my loot on the bed at the hotel) I also got Philosophy's Microdelivery after seeing it on QVC the night before. I know, I lead such and exciting life.

Wille's sole requests for the trip were some Bicycle cards (he's in the card tricks and juggeling fase) and a Starbuck's mug. He insisted on the green logo where as I prefer the old school one and got the big mugs for Martin and I.

 

Kate Spade is one of my absolute favorite companies and stylish persons but since I can't afford any of the real stuff I got some little things like next year's calendar and a long list. Looooooove lists and where better to write then than in the stripy yellow jotter.

I've been wanting to get Icing colors forever after using up my old Betty Crocker ones. Got a set of eight and can't wait to try them out on the gingerbread Wille and I are baking this weekend using the cute cookie cutters I got at Crate and Barrel. Got icing bags too and a new set of mini spatulas and polka dot napkins. All from Michael's but for the Williams Sonoma spatulas.

 

Speaking of Michael's. I went to one for the first one ever! Wohooo! I didn't go ALL wild and crazy and was sort of able to contain myself and be fairly dignified but it was pretty exciting! I know, don't tell me, I get excited about the weirdest things, but you know that by now. Got me some pretty stickers and glues. All by Martha. Yum!

 

One of my favorite haunts when I travel, besides from cleaning isles in grocery stores, are drug stores. And yes, it's the drugs I'm after! We don't get the strong stuff that actually works over here so I always stock up. When the flu hits, bring it on, I'm prepared!

Besides from spending evenings and super early mornings (wake too too early because of jet lag) at the hotel in bed watching TV I always get a pile of favorite to read. Ty was new to me and so so but I loved Martha and the Storage issue of BHG and Country Living. I also finally got to see the page about my blog in Blogging for Bliss. The publisher person was to send me a copy which never arrived (apparently never sent...) so I got a copy at B&N in Philly.

 

Some of our bath towels need replacing so one of my missions was to get new ones. Decided on these Linden Street one's from JCP.

Stuff that didn't make it into the photos but into my suitcase were also; A Land's End down coat and fleece scarf, Old Navy slippers, a bunch of socks, Hanes undies (ALWAYS buy my undies abroad) an Empire State Lego building, a scarf for Martin, our fourth year in Cat calendars and a ton of candy.

So from this 9 kg bag...

... to this 26.5 kg one in three days was not such a surprise after all.
   

 Ps. Please excuse the sorry excuse of a camera I had with me. It stunk last year and still stinks but I'd rather bring that and bang it against the shopping bags than my own.

Comments

[M.Winter]

This post makes me want to visit back home (NY) even sooner then planned. :D

[Skye]

I love seeing your loot whenever you return from a trip away! It always a treat for me. :) Thanks, Benita.

[Judith]

Whoa. Your US shopping habits are so much like mine it's spooky. I also stock up on bed linens and kitchen tools, and tend to stick to Target and Ross, but now you've made me add Penney's to my list too :)

[Nina]

Seriously, I'd love your job just for your fridays off and your annual shopping trips!

[Elisabeth - anyhow.se]

Men du vet ju hur man shoppar snyggt också! Skönt att se att fler än jag släpar hem mängder med prytslar & prylar! :)

[Petra from NL]

Nice loot!

I might be in the USA again next spring, and on my list are: cleaning products, drugs, magazines, plus a trip to Whole Foods, Michael's and the Container store. Enjoy doing the dishes with your Persian Lime.

P.S. This spring we were in France, where they had the most delicious washing up liquid: Thyme and Basil. And not in a fancy store, in a regular supermarket, for a supermarket price. I stocked up on those as well ;-)

[kristin]

Good to see someone else, carrying soap across the Atlanic ocean !! On my last trip to the US, I got the exact same food coloring, october issuses of these magazines, some stickers and my favorite; clean cotton home spray... Thanx for your inspiring website,
Kristin from Iceland

[Leslie]

You Go Girl!! Love your loot. You shop like me--mostly for home and a few clothes but only the "necessaries." Just as an FYI, if you ever want something from the states let me know and I'll send it to you. I'm not near the fancier stores but could supply you from Michael's, JCP, Starbucks, magazines, oh, and the "drugs." Hope you had no trouble getting through security and I love your "luggage tag"--it's so you!

[Lizzy]

I loved seeing what you got! It's so funny the items that one takes for granted in one's own culture and craves from another. Whenever I have to chance to go to France, I always peruse the lovely shops, but I always buy at Monoprix: I need my fix of their stationary, Ricore coffee drink, and motion-sickness medicine. Someday soon I'll have to visit Sweden to see the bounty there!

[Anne]

I can hardly comment because of all the envy I'm feeling right now. Great trip and great shopping!

[Lisbeth]

Orv, Real Simple! I sooo miss the American magazine selection...

[Account Deleted]

Benita, You are going to love the #1 lip balm. I have used it for years now, and will never use anything else. Looks like you scored big time with your loot!!

[Benita ~ Chez Larsson]

Aaahh, Target. I wish there were more of them around. I've only ever been to one place where they had one and I went mad in there. Forget dignified!

[Benita ~ Chez Larsson]

Oh, but you can get Real Simple at Presstop and lots of other foreign mags in Stockholm (you're over here aren't you?)
There's one in Gallerian, one in Västermalmsgallerian and one at T-centralen where the trains are.

[Benita ~ Chez Larsson]

I've used it for years too actually and my last one ran out just before leaving. We can get it over here too but it's really expensive and the shop's not where I usually go.

[TERESA VAZQUEZ]

I'm at Hershey, PA (the sweetest place on earth) and get the same issue of real simple!!!

[Judith]

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[Vicki K]

I love seeing what you have shopped for in the USA! It's amazing how many are the same items that I shop for living here - but it's taken my whole life to trial and error through many items - how could you have settled on the "good stuff" already? I even have the same preference in the classic Starbucks mugs...

[Carlos]

Uhoh! Somethings weird here... I'm opening a ticket on Typepad support!

[Carlos]

What can I say, I'm a pro :)

[jessica]

I have to say that I find your trip kind of funny, simply because I'm only about 20 minutes from KofP and can go whenever I feel like it! Please do let me know if there's anything you ever need...I can certainly get it to you.

Plus, I'm sure you didn't have time, but there are fabulous outlets about 20 minutes from KofP (in Limerick)...among other things, there is a Kate Spade outlet ;)

[Judith]

Good Lord. Didn't know I spoke THAT language.

[Karen]

Loved taking a virtual shopping trip with you. Great loot. You inspired me to check out the Linden towels as we need new ones also. The reviews were really good and they were half price! Hope you got that good deal too!

[Nichole]

It's so good for us Americans to see what others appreciate, so we remember to appreciate the large selection we have. I can't live without Barkeeper's Friend! I'm glad you had a good trip.

[Kelsey Scroggins]

Hey Benita!
I've been following your blog for about a year and I am so glad you go to come over to the states for a spree! I love...LOVE all the stores you visited! I love Willams-Sonoma sometimes I just go in there to hang out, weird I know. But, on the subject of Michael's...it's grrrreat! I love it, good supplies for cheap! Have you ever been to Hobby Lobby? I actually like it better than Michael's, but don't get me wrong, Michael's is great! Glad you enjoyed your trip over here!

[Goneril]

I always had to get Labello lip balm when I was in Scandinavia.

[Carlos]

No! A Kate Spade Outlet?! OMG. It's probably a good thing I didn't know...

[Carlos]

I did! Actually very few of the things I bought were full price. There were deals to be made everywhere like 40% off and then 25% on that! Unbelievable!

[Carlos]

I've heard of Hobby Lobby but never been. Went to a Joann store once and that was great too!

[Carlos]

What's going on with the comments? Help Typepad, help!

[Jakob]

Funny how Americans often complain about low-brow culture here compared to Europe. And yet there's so much great stuff to buy! Gotta love free capitalism. I wonder, are there anything you get for the house regularly in Sweden that you can't fine here? Aside from food...

Thanks for the awesome blog!

[jessica]

Yes, in addition to that whole mall, we also have this http://www.premiumoutlets.com/outlets/outlet.asp?id=75

[tammy]

That persian lime dish soap from WS is my favorite soap ever, it definitely made me not care about doing the dishes so much! Pricey, but wow, well worth it!

[CreativeActivity - Sandra]

Det var inte dåligt, du vet hur man gör det ser jag ju! Massor av fint och nu vill jag också åka på shopping ända dit :)!

[Olana]

Okay - how did you fit it all on that one little bag?

[Kristi]

I'm wondering what on earth I would be freaking out for in Sweden that I can't get here. What might that be, just in case I ever get to come?

[Jennie]

I'm a Swede living in the US, and every time I return from a visit to Sweden I bring a bag full of stuff I can't get here. Mostly food, of course, but one of my key items are dish rags (Wettex/Skona) to wipe counters and tables with. Even with all the IKEAs and little Swedish gift shops I haven't been able to find them here.

[acreativemint]

Benita I LOVED seeing what you bought in the US! Great post!!!

[kathleen]

I had to laugh when I realized that I could probably round up the majority of your purchases around my house. My favorite is definitely the Bar Keepers Friend...I've even blogged about it here...surprisingly great for cleaning glass shower doors.

[Benita ~ Chez Larsson.com]

Need your labello fix? I can send one to you!

[Benita]

I can't really think of anything other than food, like Julmust (holiday drink), salty licorice and stuff like that. I'm sure there would be plenty though if I suddenly lived in the States and started to miss things :)

[Benita ~ Chez Larsson]

You know what? I saw some at Williams Sonoma! They call then European dish towles / rags or something similar. They are white and of the variety that dries soft and not stiff like Wettex. I prefer Wettex though, but if you're desperate... :)

[Benita ~ Chez Larsson]

It's not a little bag... it's the size that you can fit a small rhino in...

[carol k]

What a loot! How did you do all that in such a short time? I love Michael's too. Seeing this makes me grateful that I can go find just about anything right here at home! I might have to try the williams sonoma products.

[Lisa Z]

You make our U.S. products look so exotic and nice, whereas I love the things imported from Scandinavia. Funny!

[Lisbeth]

Really?! Must.investigate.Presstop.today.then :D

[jja]

Great shopping! I adore Yankee Candles and was so happy to find them in Germany.

[Franziska]

if you're really a once in a year shopper you're not a really shop-a-holic in my opinion. And it's sweet what you chose and what you're excited about. I think you chose well. I smiled reading this post. One can learn a lot.

[Karin]

You're making me super jealous Benita! Vill också shoppa... :) I'll be going to NY in march, so I just have to ask: Where is the Michael's you went to? Is it in central NY or way off somewhere? I need to go craft shopping! :)

[Carlos]

As far as I know there's no Michael's in NYC. But here's a list of other craft and paper stores in NYC. http://chezlarsson.com/myblog/2008/12/new-york-paper-pleasures.html You'll love them too!

[lisa h.]

OK, I'm a little late here and the commenter probably won't see this, but NYC *just* got its first Michaels craft store in October!

It's at 100th St. and Columbus Avenue. I just went there today and spent way too much dough...but hey, it's Christmas!

It's interesting to see which items are of interest to visitors from other countries. And I'm learning about things too, like Bar Keeper's Friend (sounds a bit like Bon Ami, which is what I use. Old school, non-toxic, yadda yadda).

If I ever travel to Sweden, I'll make sure to pack some cold meds, in case I catch something. Good to know!

[Carlos]

Jag fick just en kommentar som jag inte tror du kanske automatiskt ser men kolla här, goda nyheter:

NYC *just* got its first Michaels craft store in October!

It's at 100th St. and Columbus Avenue.

[Carlos]

Oh, cool! Thanks for letting us know!!!

[Erin]

Benita,

I was wondering how you like the JCP quick dry bath towels? I saw them in the store recently and really liked the feel of them. Are they holding up well for you? Would you buy them again?

Thanks!

Erin

[Carlos]

They still look good after quite a number of washes. Love that the shape is still perfect, no pulling or warping. The only thing is that they do feel kind of thin which is probably how they are quick drying. I like that they really do dry you off though and that they are not the glide-around-your-body variety like many other towels are. If you don't mind that they are not super thick I think they are a great buy! I'm considering getting some more when I go back to the US later this year.

[Iphone 5 Black]

Chez Larsson: My US Shopping Spree Iphone 5 Black http://www.fas2fas.com/

[ルイヴィトン]

Chez Larsson: My US Shopping Spree ルイヴィトン http://vuittonpurse.webnode.jp/