To market, to market.

We decided to check out the markets at Camden today. The Northern line was half closed, so that made things a little interesting, especially since we had a limited amount of time to explore before church. But we made the best of it, sprinting through the Underground like true Londoners.

And once we finally made it to the markets, it was all worth it.

Such a fun little area! Great food, quirky shops, and the best people watching. 

I'll definitely have to go back soon.

Please like gifts.

There are a lot of reasons to love this time of year: Christmas music, scarves, family, twinkle lights and all around cheer, just to name a few. But there's something else I really like, and that's gifts.

But it's giving gifts -- not getting them -- that I love. I like the whole process, from brainstorming to picking things out (or making them) to watching someone's eyes light up when they unwrap it. And actually, I don't even have to be there for the unwrapping. Sometimes its best done anonymously.

There's this personality test type thing called the 5 Love Languages that I find really interesting. It's geared toward helping spouses relate to one another by understanding how they express love, but it applies to all kinds of relationships, whether platonic or romantic. Basically, it breaks the whole thing down into these areas: quality time, acts of service, gifts, words of affirmation and physical touch. And just because you give love in one way doesn't mean you receive it in that way.

One of my favorite ways to give love is thoughtful gift-giving. The Love Languages description puts it so well: "...the perfect gift or gesture shows that you are known, you are cared for, and you are prized above whatever was sacrificed to bring the gift to you." I like to make people feel cared for and known. So I really like giving gifts.

But let me be clear: I don't mean to say that it's a bad thing to like getting gifts. Quite the opposite! I want you to like it! Because if you don't like receiving gifts, how will I ever be able to let you know you're loved? 

Please like gifts.

As for me? Well I like them enough. But my favorite gifts are the ones that make me laugh or are considerate and sentimental. I don't need expensive. I don't like flashy. Which is why I don't give those kinds of gifts. (Sorry friends who had their eyes on something pricey this year!)

But, really, I'd rather just give them. I'm more of a quality time person.

They say the best things in life are free. I suppose that about sums it up. But I think the best things in life also involve time and effort, thoughtfulness, and laughter. (And, more often than not, chocolate.)

(This was playing while I wrote this post. Thought it was lovely and appropriate.)

Happy Christmas shopping! I hope you enjoy it. And may you not be overwhelmed by expectations or price tags.

  

Jackpot.

Look what I stumbled upon this afternoon:

Isn't it beautiful?

My favorite thing about this section (besides the abundance of American flags, naturally) was the fact that Aunt Jemima products take up three of the shelves. It's as if pancakes are the staple food of our fair country...and none of us are aware they can be made from scratch.

There was also Jif peanut butter, Duncan Hines cake mix, Nestle bittersweet chocolate chips, Lucky Charms, and Hershey's cocoa -- none of which I've seen here yet.

AND they had PUMPKIN. I practically skipped out of the store.

Oh happy day.

Productivity, vegetables and lads.

Remember how I told you about my [wonderful] presentation? Well today my group met up to work on our reflection report. It's not due till a week from Monday, but we pretty much finished everything this afternoon. Best group ever.

Afterward, we stopped at the market down in the town center. I got three bags of vegetables -- a huge bowl of mushrooms, 8 beautiful tomatoes on the vine, 5 cloves of garlic and 3 avocados -- for just £3.50. Unreal.

We made it down to the bus stop right as my bus was leaving. It was a nice afternoon, so rather than just stand there waiting for the next one, I decided to walk a little ways to another stop. Halfway to the stop I wanted, a van full of "fitties" (see How To Speak English for the definition...thanks Hannah and Sheila!) pulled up. One leaned out the window and waved. Then he blew me a kiss. I couldn't help but laugh (especially since I still get confused about which side the driver is on, and homeboy looked like he was driving with no hands). I kept walking, but traffic was thick, which meant the van stayed at my pace. They started chatting me up:

"Hello, darling!"
"You're lovely. Really."
"What's your name?"
"Where are you from, love?"

They were really persistent, so I answered that last question. "The States." That got a reaction. I never know what to do in situations like that, and normally I'd have been way awkward (always am). But their accents were just so lovely, and they had me laughing the whole time. Nonetheless, I passed on the ride they offered me and caught the bus home instead.

What I'm trying to say is, if I measured my days by productivity, vegetables and lads, today would have been one of the best ever.

And now the Baylor game is on, so I'd better be going.

Sic'em.

Grandma shoes.

I went shopping today. I didn't mean to, but who can pass up dresses for under £10?

Anywho, while I was browsing, I saw this:

It's not that great of a shot, but give me a break. I was trying to be inconspicuous.

This sweet old lady was checking out this selection of impossibly high, sparkly, strappy heels. She spent quite a while on each pair, picking them up and turning them so they caught the light. Sure, she may have just been intrigued or amused. Or maybe she was shopping for a granddaughter. But I'd like to think she was trying to figure out which would go best with her favorite little black dress.

 

And I'm sure she'd have rocked whichever pair she picked.

  

So many potatoes.

I spent most of today hitting up the major tourist attractions in London. I've yet to go through all those photos, but I'll put them up later, promise.

So to tide you over, here's this:

Would you like fries (chips) with that?

We all did our grocery shopping separately. Then we organized our kitchen and found that we now have enough potatoes to last for pretty much the rest of the semester. Oops! Next time, we'll all go shopping together.
 

Tackling Tesco (aka trying to buy groceries and failing miserably)

Today was grocery shopping day, because (wo)man cannot live on bread alone, and that's basically all I had in our kitchen.

I was surprised by the amount of glass packaging and alarmed by the lack of peanut butter (but there was plenty of Nutella, so that's a relief). And I was a bit bewildered when I realized that the vast majority of the labels were ones I'd never seen before. Somewhere in the back of my mind, I guess I've always just assumed the major brands in the States are global.

Wrong.

I was managing well enough till I got to the butter-slash-yogurt aisle. I saw absolutely nothing I recognized. Then I had a minor panic attack and decided I had plenty in my cart (trolley), and I'd just go back later.

Did I mention that today is Sunday, and EVERYONE was at Tesco? Just a bit chaotic. So that didn't help.

But I can't live without butter. Not for long, anyway.

I'll try again in a few days, and this time I'll be more emotionally prepared.
 

Hey big spender.

We were supposed to go to New York this weekend.  That is, until we found out Irene was planning to arrive right as we did. Then we cancelled.

But it turned out okay since:
1) We got our flights/hotel/Broadway tickets refunded.
2) I got to go shopping.

If you know me, you know I don't really like spending money. Especially not on myself. Especially not on frivolous things. This weekend was an exception.

Guys, I actually got stuff!  And there were some ah-mazing sales.  Like the $98 blazer I got for $19. Most of it was really practical (jackets, boots, thick socks and other I-think-I-will-need-this-in-England stuff).

But I did buy a completely unnecessary pair of shoes.

(Absolutely unnecessary and entirely impractical.)

And I love them.

Dress up.

You know how the very first thing you do once you get back from a day of shopping is try on everything you got? Even though you already tried it on (maybe even more than once) before you decided to buy it?

Oh, you don't do that? Right, me neither. Because that would be weird.