A Li'l Retail Therapy and a Whole Lotta Love...

I have been looking forward to this day for weeks. Three of my dearest friends set time aside to spend the day together doing a li'l retail therapy with a whole lotta love....
Whenever we get together, there is no end to the topics we discuss and the conversations we share, as we pour our hearts out and invest in each other's lives.
Our first stop was to our favourite Coffeeshop,
The Rumble Tum, a unique specialty gift shop and cafe.
Although it may seem early to some, everything was decked out for the season, with fresh garlands and mini lights....

As we stepped inside, we were greeted by snowmen and center pieces, festive aprons, candles and napkins, dishes and other houseware items....




This morning we did not consider calories as we all enjoyed delectable desserts along with our beverage of choice, mine being... coffee, of course:) I chose the praline cheesecake and was not disappointed. It was heavenly!

After a leisurely morning, we meandered into the village of
St. Jacobs, known for its unique small-town shopping experience, with elegant shops such as The Weathered Gate, my personal favourite...

They've got a little oh-la-la Paris theme going here....

The shop window display...

Great outdoor urns:
And for my chocolate-loving friends,
who shared a good laugh as we read this:

My theme for this holiday season...
(I should add that for me giving more
means giving of my time and resources,
not 'stuff')
This is my wish for you, my friends: Comfort on difficult days, smiles when sadness intrudes, rainbows to follow the clouds, laughter to kiss your lips, sunsets to warm your heart, hugs when spirits sag, beauty for your eyes to see, friendships to brighten your being, faith so that you can believe, confidence for when you doubt, courage to know yourself, patience to accept the truth,
Love to complete your life.
-- Author Unknown

Friesland: Fashion and Shopping

Fashion in Friesland

What can I say about the fashion in the Netherlands/Friesland and European fashion in general? Yes, I took note and all I can say is this:
I love it!
Fashion is taken very seriously in the Netherlands and it seems that everyone is dressed beautifully when they go out, whether it be for church, for work, for visiting, or just for shopping.
This is what I observed:
The main fashion colours for Fall this year are black, grey and purple.
Bulky, chunky, cosy knit sweaters, along with scarves, leggings and boots are a fashion statement.
I tried to capture a few photos for my family and friends here, but the glare caused by window shopping made some of the photos somewhat unclear.
This will give you a general idea:






















Even the men dress fashionably and it is not unusual to see them wearing this while strolling down the street:

Children's Department:

It is so much fun to browse all the toys that are available for children from companies such as Lego, Intertoy, Playmobil, wooden puzzles, toys, dolls, teddy bears, crafts, colouring, etc.
The selection here is huge as there is a bigger emphasis for children to be kept occupied indoors because of the seaside climate; the often rainy, overcast weather.

And the small children all sleep in their cribs/toddler beds
in a sleeping bag like this to keep warm.
This is called a trappelzak:

Don't you just love the children's clothing?
Everything is just so fashionable, adorable and cute!

Frisian items, including aprons, knitting and other handwork,
towels, books etc. line many speciality shop windows:

Oh, and if thrift shopping is your interest and hobby, you will need to check out the Rommelmarkt and walk down memory lane if you have a dutch heritage.
There was a warehouse full of these items for a koopje or good deal!

Antique tins:

Blue Delft:

Boerenbont

Petroleum Stoofjes/Stoves:

Shopping in Friesland

Most of the shopping in Friesland occurs in the Midstraat or shopping centre in the downtown of the village. There is a cobblestone pathway with shops on either side. No cars can drive along here, but there are many strollers as well as cyclists who come through and park their locked bicycles in front of the shops they visit. The shops generally close between 5:00 and 6:00 p.m.in the evenings and on Saturdays, and do not open again until 1:30 p.m. on Monday afternoon. There are very few shops open on Sunday here in Friesland as that is still considered a day of rest. Most families use this day as a family day where they will plan an outing on bike or by car, or go boating and camping in the summer.

Koopavond in the Joure
The shops stay open one evening a week,
usually on a Thursday or Friday.
In the Joure they are open on Friday evenings.
This becomes a gezellig event for many families
as they browse through shops and enjoy window shopping,
visiting with friends, going to the snack bar for patat frites,
or a cafe for a bakje koffie.

Anyone interested in a shopping adventure with me?