Hesitant Shopper No More!!!

Hi Everybody!

There is an issue that I didn't think was an issue until my recent experience (which is what today's post is about) however said issue drives my husband crazy. The issue is this: I am a hesitant shopper. So what I mean by that is I will see something, really want it, and then have to take some time to think about it. I may take days, weeks, months, and yes sometimes even years before deciding to actually purchase the item I initially wanted. At home in the States this method has typically served me well as often times by waiting I will get the item at a good discount or will find an item I would rather have. While living in Ireland...not so much.

So what had happened was...I had been in and out of a great Irish souvenir shop called Carroll's Irish Gifts and had seen the cutest mug that was covered in photos of Dublin's iconic places and items in black and white while having a few items like the double decker bus etc. in color.  I would love to show you a picture of this mug but alas I do not have one. Every time I saw the mug in a shop (many places we visited had this same mug) I would think to myself "you are living here you do NOT need a mug". So I didn't get it and I didn't get it and I didn't get it.

Fast forward to our last night in Dublin and I had decided that I wanted that mug. We had company with us and since it was our last night in Dublin we wanted to go out for dinner and have Bangers & Mash one more time. So we went out and then after dinner I dragged everyone to Carroll's to get my mug but they were closed. There was a chance that another Carroll's that was close by might be open so I dragged everybody over there but that one was closed too. Grrr! Now mind you it was cold and windy and not pleasant at all! So I had everybody tromping through city center for nothing! The store has a website so I went online to find it and the store no longer carries that mug. I found another mug that I liked so I ordered it. It came in the other day and I was so excited! I found the scissors, opened the box, unwrapped the bubble wrap and discovered my new mug was BROKEN!!!

Unbelievable! So I sent an email to the store and they were incredibly helpful and attentive but because the item was so inexpensive and the cost to replace it and cover shipping just didn't make sense so they issued me a refund. No Dublin mug for me. :(

 Lesson learned! In the future I will not procrastinate if it is something I really want. I got the "I told you so" look from Jamie (let's face it I got that look every time I mentioned the mug incident). Almost every morning when I go to get my coffee I think about the absence of my Dublin mug and shake my head to myself. Why must I always learn things the hard way?

Wishing you sunshine and smiles,
Kim :)

Sunday!!! Better late than never?

I would love to call this a bonus blog entry but I would only be fooling myself. The last 72 hours have been a heck of a whirlwind! Friday morning the 15th we woke up in Spain then that afternoon we flew to Dublin and spent the evening there. We went out to dinner with our visiting family and enjoyed one last wonderful dish of bangers and mash from the Brazen Head, Dublin's oldest pub. We were curious about a book that was on the shelf in the room we were dining in and discovered that it was a guest book so we signed it, me, hubby, and my sis in law were so excited. After dinner Jamie and I had to go back to our hotel room to repack for our trip back to the States. Our company got to go hang out in the very swanky bar that was located downstairs in our hotel, lucky ducks! 

The next morning we got up and had breakfast and then headed back to the airport. That nine hour flight back to Orlando was a (insert choice curse word here)! I tried to sleep but that just was not happening but I did get to watch three movies! However this is not what I want to talk about this is just a very long explanation of why I flaked out on Friday's post. 

Our last ride to the airport getting ready to say good bye to Dublin. 

Sooo all that to start the actual post which is all about Granada. Such a beautiful city!!! We did one of the most fun things I have ever done on a vacation. We took a two hour tour on Segways!!! It was amazing. We got to ride around the city and our tour guide, Manuel, took us to amazing viewpoints to get pictures and see the city. We went to one that was an amazing viewpoint of the palaces. 

No matter which way I looked I was impressed by the landscape and the mountains it was all beautiful! After our Segway tour we went to the palaces and walked up a rather steep incline to get to the entrance. The landscape was so perfect! It was nothing compared to the palace. Everywhere I looked it seemed as though there was something breathtaking. I could not believe how chilly it was getting inside of the palace as the sun went down but it was made from stone, marble and tile and was just gorgeous! 

I am standing in one of the very large doors in one of the many courtyards.

This is the ceiling, I can't imagine how long this must have taken! 

We left the palace and headed back to the resort since we had to get dinner, pack up and wanted to relax and enjoy our last night in Spain. We hope to return to Spain for sure it was beautiful and there was still so much more that we would love to explore! Thanks so much for indulging me and letting me share this experience with you all!!! 

 

Barcelona Baby!!!

WHi Everybody!

After finally getting a good night's sleep we got up this morning and had a hearty Irish breakfast before getting on a flight through Ryan Air and flying to Barcelona, Spain. It was a pleasant flight but really tight there was hardly any room to move around but we arrived safe and sound. We quickly shed our coats (as Barcelona is 15 degrees warmer than Dublin) and hopped on a bus that brought us to the Gothic District which is the area we are staying in while in Barcelona. 

This city is beautiful!!! It is vibrant and busy but still open enough to not feel claustrophobic. There are a few remnants still left standing from Christmas but the city seems to be in the process of taking it all down. 

We ate at a wonderful tapas restaurant right around the corner from our flat and the staff was very friendly and attentive and were so helpful and patient while I stumbled through my limited ability to speak Spanish. We had the most delicious sangria I have ever had and then as we were paying our bill and getting ready to leave they popped the cork on a bottle of champagne and poured us each a glass. It was a beautiful and delicious way to start our holiday! 

After dinner we walked around the city and scoped out some of the shops around where we are staying. I for one cannot wait to hit up one of the bakeries for breakfast tomorrow morning and at some point stop at the cheese shop. 

So, happy weekend! I hope you are going to be doing something fun and that will truly make you happy even if it is only for a small amount of time. I look forward to filling you all in on Monday, January 11th as to what we have been up to and may possibly inundate you all with pictures. 

Wishing you sunshine and smiles,

Kim : )