Antique store

At the top of our street, near the town square there is a small shop, a cross between an antique store and a junk shop. Every day the owner takes some of the goods out and displays them on the street, perhaps to attract potential buyers, or maybe just because the store is too small for everything to fit inside. The store sells inexpensive antiques, dishes, clocks, movie posters, antlers :), small furniture and pictures. Most of the pictures are probably not what you would call a work of art, but from time to time I see some that I really like: lovely drawings of white and purple lilac, or sunflowers that in my inexpert opinion could rival the ones from Van Gogh. 

Although I didn't buy anything from the store so far, I am sure that sooner or later I will. For now however, the store is kind of a variable street exhibition, a pleasant bright spot that makes the way to the market or to work more colorful.  

Bare necessities too

HAND SANITIZER AND WET WIPES                                                                                                 

How often do you find yourself in a situation when your hands feel dirty or sticky and there is nowhere to wash them? It happens to me every time I use the public transport. That's why I carry hand sanitizers and wet wipes with me. When it comes to choosing antibacterial gel, I suppose I am guilty of judging the book by its cover. All sanitizes claim to remove 99% of bacteria, or something to that effect, but I like the Pocketbacs from Bath and body works best. They smell divine, have pretty picture on the front, and a practical holder, so they are always readily at hand. The same goes for picking wet wipes. All of them work the same, but I never choose the ones in boring, plain packaging. After using the Pocketbac and wet wipes I feel that my hands are clean enough to do anything, even eat. But this treatment can dry them out, so I always carry a hand cream with me - another bare necessity, to be featured soon :)

Memories: New York

Not so long ago I wrote here about London and about my halfhearted attitude towards it. And it made me think of another city and a very different relationship. I first visited New York City almost 8 years ago, and in less than a week I was enticed, mesmerized and charmed by New York, the buzzing, noisy, dirty, exciting, crowded, vibrant, unscrupulous, iconic city full of busy and straight talking locals and slightly confused tourists. I don't necessarily believe in a love at first sight between people, but when visiting a new place or a country I sometimes feel this instant and inexplicable appeal - and New York definitely falls under this category. I am forever a great New York devotee, and I cannot tell you how much I envy those, who are lucky enough to live in such a breathtaking city. It will always be in my heart as one of the greatest places I have ever visited. 

The bare necessities...

...or the things, that I cannot imagine my day without.

Well there is the obvious, vital and irreplaceable:

But other than that:

LIP BALM

or Labello, as I call it, regardless of the make. I am not sure how many lip balms I own. You would be able to find one inside of every jacket pocket, inside of every handbag I own, in my desk drawer, in my suitcase, in a car glove compartment, and, just so I don't have to walk too far to use one, I keep one in the kitchen, one in the living room and one next to my bed. And, if in spite of all this I still find myself without a lip balm, like I did on our recent trip away, I make towards the nearest store and buy one. I read somewhere, that lip balms are addictive and I am a living proof of that. Carmex is the best one I tried so far and my undisputed favorite. 

More bare necessities coming soon...