Shopping in America

If you live in the States, this might be a very boring post. If you don't, though, you might find it amusing (maybe a little?). Every time I go grocery shopping I feel I'm taking a tour, not just checking items off my to-buy list. You can learn so much about the local culture just by browsing through the products on the aisles! When I'm at Walmart, I sometimes feel I come from very far away ... Which I do, duh, but I feel the gap between Argentina and America is even broader than I'd imagined. And don't let me get started with online shopping! The sales are actually real. It's so hard not to give in to temptation when you're offered so many incredible bargains. I hate to see myself fall for them; I don't want to be weak and feed the capitalist system so shamelessly! (Ok, I might have gone too far) Especially when we need to save. I try, though; but sometimes I just surrender.

This past Friday, for instance, I got an ad from Shoe Dazzle which read "Triple treat: 3 for $49.95". The second I opened the link, I knew that was it for me. 5 minutes later, these 3 babies were in my cart and 2 minutes later, I got an e-mail with my order confirmation.

In my defense, I haven't worn a pair of wedges for over 2 years. I didn't bring any from Argentina because they were all shabby and not worth stuffing into my suitcase. As for the satchel, I got it with the hope it'll match my new lipstick.

Coming back to grocery shopping, whenever I'm at the store I have my cell phone camera ready to go because I know I'll find something amusing to snap. Do you want to see some of my latest photos?

Chocolate cupcake mix in a jar!!! Who on Earth would think of a jar as a marketable container for cupcake mix?! It looks like a bottle of fabric softener! Something that also looks very unappealing to me is green tea sold in cans :/.

And white rice in the frozen section? Isn't that funny, too?

 

You can find containers for practically anything here. I'm not sure I'd buy one for a single cupcake, but they do look cute.

Here's something I'll definitely buy one day: colorful ice cream cups :p.

I'm impressed by the broad variety of products there are. Marshmallow vodka does not sound very appealing, though.

 

Unlike Argentina, people here peel corn off before buying it.

I kind of want one of these cute watermelon knives.

 

America is all about themes and seasons. If you like say, Hello Kitty, you can stuff your house with Hello Kitty trinkets, clothes, games and even food. Fall, for instance, is all about pumpkin spiced food, everything orange and spooky because of Halloween and Christmas ... I think mentioning that there's something called Christmas in July says how big this holiday in this country.

 

Home Depot is another place I really enjoy going to. There's a section where they customize your keys to the color and topic of your choice.

There's a place where you can test spray paint ...

And they sell 3-day survival kits! I had certainly never seen anything like this anywhere else.

What things caught your eye while in a foreign country?

What things from your home country do you think would amuse nonnatives?

Have a great week, everyone! ;D

Related posts:

A tour to the 99c store 

First impressions

A compendium of movie related somethings

I've been wanting to talk about movies for a while but couldn't find an excuse to. Up until I moved to the States, I used to have a feature called "movie task" where I would do something connected to a specific movie (emulate the wardrobe, crafts, etc); I loved to do it! But once I got here, I guess I lost motivation and there were so many things to adjust to that I didn't want to commit to a blog schedule or anything ... Who knows, I might bring it back one day since I love movies!

Anyhow, I don't know why I hadn't though of a compendium of movie related somethings before! :p Today I'll show you products, DIYs, etc I picture movie characters wearing/doing, you know.

Something that Poppy would wear: Do you love Poppy from Happy-Go-Lucky as much as I do? :D This movie was so inspiring to me! Even though some scenes are too long for my taste and yes, her character is too cartoony, I love her spirit, positivity and wardrobe :p. I picture her wearing clothes from La Casita de Wendy  and shoes from Irregular Choice (I discovered the latter on Jenna's blog).

Something Stephane Miroux would create: It was impossible for me not to fall in love with The Science of Sleep for several reasons: 1) Stephane is a daydreamer like me, 2) he loves paper! When I saw these images from Fideli, they totally reminded me of him.

Stephane is a boy, but maybe Stephanie would wear paper dresses like these in Stephane's mind?

Something that reminds me of Lost in Translation: Did you like this movie? Everybody that has seen it twice swears by this film, but to be quite honest, I can't see its greatness. Anyway, these Tokyo in a box sets and Tokyo map playing cards take me back to this movie.

Something Jordana from Submarine would own: I have to admit that I watched Submarine because I knew it was directed by Richard Ayoade; yes! Moss from the IT Crowd! :) How could I not watch it? Although I enjoyed it (and its music), I hated to find the typical cliches most indie movies resort to. But, hey! What do I know about movies, right? I don't think Jordana would wear the Polaroid camera pin, but I'd totally add it on the lapel on her red coat ;).

Something that belongs in Amelie Poulain's apartment: Bianca's bike, animal votives, green paper lamp and a Beacon Two - Twenty Five camera.

Something to emulate Lady Vengeance's make-up: Sympathy for Lady Vengeance is one of those movies that I started watching, got crept out but couldn't stop watching till the end. Since then, I've been meaning to try wearing red eye shadow like her. Here's a tutorial to learn how to do it.   

Something Marie Antoinette would have eaten: I can totally picture Marie Antoinette eating all of these sophisticated sugar cubes, petit fours and edible lace rosettes.

Something Christine would create: I've seen Me and You and Everyone We Know countless times, it never gets old to me; it's so filled with poetry and things I can relate to. Christine is a low-key creative soul and I think she would come up with products like the following.

Can you suggest any other movies you can relate to products/DIYs, etc?

Hope you have a movie-like weekend! ;D 

Assorted colors

I've been trying to get back into productive mode, but it hasn't been easy. I need to restrain myself from spending time in the blogging world, but that's hard too. Why is it so difficult for me to stay focused!? Random thoughts. Other than that I don't have much to say today, so I'll better leave you with some photos of my days discriminated (ugly word!) by color.

Gold

I got these pretty shoes I won in a giveaway.

 

Red

Cute book I recently bought at the library

Watermelon balls and fruit punch.

We finally pulled out our tomatoes.

It's too hot for my aguayo boots ... I miss wearing them.

Green

I made my ugly looking but yummy tasting spinach gnocchi again.

Purple

I sent my sweet pal Ashley a purple ball in the mail.

Brown

David's baked potatoes are the best! He cooked a lot these past days. Home-made marinara sauce, Alfredo sauce, steak and potatoes, steak sandwiches ... He's a great cook!

My good old bear bag and bear cookies :p.

All colors

I've printed some photos and am choosing my favorites to frame and hang on the wall.

 
What colors have you been wearing/eating/using?

May you all have a colorful day! ;D 

 a circus freak has a 3rd leg