Souvenir Stash: Williamsburg, VA

Over winter break, I was able to take a short trip to Williamsburg, Virginia.  I really didn't buy any souvenirs, other than two postcards, but I certainly came across some interesting items.

This Souvenir Stash is a lot different than the ones I've done in the past, due to the fact that I didn't buy any of this stuff.  2/3 of it was totally expensive trash and the other 1/3 was totally expensive.  

As a native Virginian, I am totally down with this!

"Let's get Grandma a classy little something for her shot glass collection!"

I guess as far as shot glasses go, this is rather demure!

I am presenting this one without comment.

Souvenir Stash: Lancaster, PA

I've decided to switch it up on my Souvenir Stash posts and just talk about my favorite item.  In this case, that item is Betsy Lantz's Hot Sweet Mustard.  Saying that I love this mustard is a bit of an understatement.  I adore it.  (It's especially good on grilled cheese sandwiches!)

 I saw someone else's version of hot sweet mustard at Harris Teeter earlier in the summer after my previous Betsy Lantz stash was gone and it was an extreme disappointment.  I got two jars of Betsy's mustard this visit and I am hoping it will be enough to last me until I visit again! 

Do you have any out of state favorite treats? :)

Souvenir Stash: Asheville

Of course, I just couldn't help myself in the face of souvenirs (or fabric).

As promised, here's my stash from Asheville, NC!  Most of the souvenirs are from various gift shops along the Blue Ridge Parkway where we went hiking.  The motorcycle postcard is my favorite!   The postcard with the baby/pig on it is an advertisement for the product that made the owner of the Grove Park Inn rich.  The print is from the awesome Woolworth Walk.  The pouch made of measuring tape and the "Yay! Asheville!" magnet are from Malaprop's Bookstore.

I also got to visit two awesome fabric stores while in Asheville.  I love, love, love being able to see "designer" fabric in person!

The first store I visited was Kitsch Fabrics on Haywood Road.  They had a great selection of unusual fabrics, some of which you can see above.  (I can't remember the designers off the top of my head-other than the Jay McCarroll mushrooms.  Email me if you're really curious and I'll check out the selvedges.)

The other store I visited was Waechter's Silk Shop.  By visit, I mean run down the road to 14 minutes before they close and make a giant stack of bolts. :)  

Those red wagons remind me so much of PeeWee Herman!

I was so excited that they had the "Prom" print from Michael Miller!  The Tammis Keefe tribute fabrics from Michael Miller are so adorable.  I can't wait to find the perfect project for all this new fabric!

(Did I miss any amazing fabric stores in Asheville?  Let me know so I can visit next time!)

Souvenir Stash: Myrtle Beach

I've got a real weakness for souvenirs.  (Maybe this can be attributed to listening to Willie Nelson's "On the Road Again" as a child, i.e. "goin' places that I've never been, seein' things that I may never see again.")  Something about the experience of "vacation" makes the objects that much more precious.  They are made to help you remember a time that was extra special, maybe spent with people you don't get to see often.

Since finding souvenirs is something I really enjoy (and do frequently), I am going to start featuring my stash here after my trips!

I want to start by sharing the first souvenirs I remember buying.

These two mini-aquarium/snow globes were for sale in a little house that was a gift store.  They are still marked on the bottom as being $1.39 each, so I must have really wanted them as a seven year old to end up with both!  They've lost the glitter they once contained due to being filled over and over again, but I still love them just as much as I did when I was seven!

This stash is from our recent trip to Myrtle Beach.  Here's the (overly informative) breakdown:

* The pinecone owl and alligator puppet are from Alligator Adventure.

* The flamingo snow globe, waterproof containers, some of the postcards, and the two dolphin magnets that make it seem like dolphins are unfamiliar with water are from Bargain Beachwear.

* The wiggly crab magnet is from the mini golf course where I achieved second place after three holes-in-one. 

* The owl earrings are from a shop in Barefoot Landing.

* The heart lock, blue dolphin magnet, vintage postcards, and license plate are from the Gay Dolphin.  

I was so excited about these waterproof containers since I thought they'd be perfect for iPhone . . . so I bought three.  When I showed them to my husband and tried to demonstrate, it became clear they are not at all perfect for iPhone. 

My parents used to spend a lot of time in Myrtle Beach before I was born, so I bought them a copy of this vintage postcard.  It's before their time, but probably more like what the area looked like when they visited when they were first married.

I'm so excited to share more stashes in the future, including some of my extra special treasures from past trips! :)

What's your favorite souvenir?