12-21-11 - HAY MAN - it's Ima Shoppinhere! 

On the 12th Day of Holiday Shopping...

I forgot my HUSBAND'S GIFT!!!!

On the 12th Day of Holiday Shopping...

I also found FIVE gold watches...

ON THE 12th DAY OF HOLIDAYSHOPPING...

I picked out the Seiko and hoped that he would like it.

On my way to Hayman's Jewelers (Downtown Tampa's OLDEST retail establishment), we all (Odessa, Drew, and I)  met up with Doubting Bill at L'Eden for some quiche and wine.  You remember what he said "you can't shop in Downtown Tampa lalalala" and all that led to my DEFIANCE.  I said, "HA! I shall do ALL my Holiday Shopping in Downtown Tampa!!!" 

And I did. So did my friends. 

So this is what we told him: 

WE GOT

Designer purses, baby clothes, toys, wooden cutting board, holiday ornaments, nativity set, jewelry galore, spa kits, golf shirt, dress shoes, Tom's shoes, flip flops, glass vase, handkerchieves, jacket, suspenders, dress shirt, boots, wallet, candy, wine, coffee beans, tea leaves, burgers, salads, table linens, mugs and cups, truffle butter, HOT LIPS, local artisan baskets, African baskets, bread knife, stationery, picture frame, boat ride, ghost tour, hair-do, facial, fish video, children's board books, cook books, collector books, movie passes, stage plays, retro memorabilia, tank top, tricky nail polish, Nora Ephram, Bud Lee, Ferdie Pacheco, a River Otter and Santa and the Martians,

And a partridge on a plate from the Plant Museum

We hung out with Bill right after I had been to the Hayman Jewelers  to purchase the one gift that I should have bought FIRST - A watch for my husband. 

Hayman is no stranger to me - they've expertly fixed my broken watches over the years - when other jewelers refused to do so.  They've been around since 1933 -  So,  yeah,  pretty solid.

They're another little shop around the corner with bling things at all price ranges.  Since my budget is become depleted (so sad), I tried to be careful.  Loved the holiday pins - bought a few for friend gifts.  Good looking stuff - for little $$$!

Loved the Green Frog, the White Snowflake, and the Yellow Dragon Fly.  Haven't seen such pretty pins anywhere else.  Reindeer's kinda cute too.  Frog is my fave - may keep it for me. 

Had I seen these bracelets before I made out my Santa Please list, I would have asked for the gold and green.  It's on the list now - for birthday, Turn the Clocks Back Day, First Day of Summer, Frozen Food Day.  (Yes, Virginia, there is a Frozen Food Day - March 6th!) 

If you have come along this far in the Blog - I'll tell you who  invented the process of frozen food?  Clarence Birdseye.  It's true.  And once again, I have digressed.  One should never digress from the subject of jewelry.  Jeesh. 

Hayman's has a sale going on - 60% off the estate jewelry, and the pictures don't do justice to the collection.  There's a certified gemologist on site who can answer any questions about a precious or semi-precious stone, as well as gold and silver.  I had a question about the earrings!  Often times my ears become sore and infected, and I was told from hereon to only purchase better quality earrings. Do I have to spend $100.00 per pair?  NO!  Check out Hayman's beautiful earrings - some are over $100, but plenty are well under and quite lovely AND GUARANTEED FOR LIFE.  It would be nice if everything else were so...

Love the aqua drops...

The Bulova Clock in the window of Hayman's tells me that it's time to go and play with Bill's mind.  For sure, he won't believe all what we've accomplished this week - and never had to fight for parking space with a crazed and desparate lunatic. We met some interesting people and got more connected.  We felt unique and cutting edge.  We felt urban. 

Shopping Downtown gave us a reason to be creative.  The people we love and care for will be receiving some things that they never had before - things they didn't even know existed or were available.  I keep thinking about the Soothing Seascapes Video from the Aquarium or the Cypher Toy at the Tampa History Center.  Odessa is thinking of the Mineret Holiday Ornament and embroidered handkerchief.  Drew is thinking  of the Escama bags made from recycled aluminum tabs and the Vietnamese cutting board made of bamboo. 

 Make it a real downtown - business and commerce -- restaurants and retail -- day and night -- live and work -- shop and play.  OK?  OK. 

As for Bill - he promises to do SOME of his holiday shopping downtown next year.  We'll take that.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!  SHOPPING IS SOOOOOOOOOOOOOO DONE.