I Love To …
SHOP (now I have that song from Mary Poppins … “I love to laugh” with the snorts and everything stuck in my head ARG!)! Oooo I love shopping. Our budget and lifestyle do not allow me to really splurge, but then again we appreciate so much more this way. It is hard to explain. Waiting for that item, that perfect piece, just feels so gratifying.
I was introduced to a whole new world of shopping when I was living in California. Not only because you can purchase pretty much anything you can imagine, but due to the friendships I forged there. My friends introduced me to a wide range of open ended toys, yarn, fabric and other lovelies that I had never dreamed of. There are many days I daydream of shopping at Target and the other US stores …
Yet now that I am home, in Canada there is a sense of pride supporting Canadian businesses. Did you know you can search geographically on Etsy and shop local? In these times, when gas prices are insane, the ecosystems are crashing around us due to pollution, shopping at home makes even more sense.
I have attempted in my limited time so far to familiarize myself with local shops in my city, going to them first before heading to the internet. I also have a growing list that I need to format and share with you all soon (it is on my ever growing to-do list, luckily we Canadians hibernate every winter so I will eventually catch up) of online Canadian shops.
I have this insane loyalty to those I adore. Bloggers that I worship, I follow them on their other endeavors (or at least try to), so for me that loyalty extends to shopping too.
I adore Canada, I am so freaking grateful to be back home (even though I miss Target), it makes me feel wickedly good that I am loyal to Canadian shops! It is better for the environment to shop local, and I adore supporting other parents and bloggers!
Do you shop Canadian? Local?
Apples ‘n Oranges is hosting The Ultimate I Buy Canadian Blog Party, all the cool people are in on it 
June 23rd, 2008 at 10:14 pm
Great post. Thanks for entering the contest - I’m going to go explore the rest of this blog now
Gliding through Motherhoods last blog post..I buy Canadian!
June 23rd, 2008 at 11:26 pm
I LOVE to shop local. We actually still buy most clothes and new toys in Canada and bring them here with us every visit home. I figure NB can use our $$$ more than SoCal
Mostly our shopping involved Frenchy’s and the Co-op (local produce, meat, etc.) at this point, but one day I’ll expand my horizons
June 23rd, 2008 at 11:48 pm
You know I shop locally for my food. Of course, none of my local shopping involves Canada. I actually had a whole dinner party conversation revolve around teasing me for being a locavore and beets.
I did use the local etsy thing once for my area, and ended up with a bunch of beads, not my thing. I’m sure if I expanded to LA I would do better.
Are clothes still manufactured in Canada (referring to Erin’s response)? Or is that just to give the retailers the money?
I’m trying just to shop less, but don’t even get me started on books . . .
Hollys last blog post..Once upon a time
June 23rd, 2008 at 11:52 pm
I often try to buy American too - I think it is a great idea to shop locally - support our industries and businesses that are here at home!
Hope you had a good day - see you soon - Kellan
Kellans last blog post..Good Bye … I’ll Miss You!
June 23rd, 2008 at 11:58 pm
That is so awesome! I try to do what shopping I can locally, as well. Mostly because of gas prices, but I like the idea of buying locally just to put back into the community I live in. Ultimately, buying local can only benefit your family by making your city/community thrive.
Devilish Southern Belles last blog post..I can’t believe it’s come to this.
June 24th, 2008 at 1:48 am
But, OH, Target! Does our Canada ever need TARGET!
Haley-Os last blog post..Where I Draw the Line….
June 24th, 2008 at 4:55 am
So now I have that song in my head too.
I confess I do most of my shopping at Target. It’s 3 minutes from my house and has pretty much everything in one spot. With gas prices and time constraints (you know! Only so much you can ask kids to endure!) I go the quick, easy route most of the time.
I do like to check out the small local shops though…but I often can’t because the small spaces are just asking for my kids to break something.
Heathers last blog post..Oh no she di-n’t and other crappy stuff
June 24th, 2008 at 10:02 am
That’s awesome.
I bought a pair of boots online from a Canadian Store once and the shipping almost made me pee.
So, no I don’t buy Canadian, but I do shop local.
The Laundresss last blog post..Who knew I was this exciting?
June 24th, 2008 at 11:13 am
I wish so much that Canada had better online shopping….
Rebeccas last blog post..
June 24th, 2008 at 11:31 am
I would LOVE to shop Canadian, if I ever get there. It’s the only country I have ever wanted to visit. I have this fear of being in some other country and someone stealing my passport, or stuffing drugs in my suitcase and I’ll be stranded there forever, but I don’t have that fear of Canada.
However, I LOVE me some Target. It’s the cleanest store by far and they have great stuff!
Robinas last blog post..The Wedding Blues
June 24th, 2008 at 12:10 pm
I am an impulsive shopper however I noticed that as I grow older (ahem)….I tend to shop less. Having said that, I shopped till I dropped when I was in America and Canada. I love it when I was in Niagara Falls
June 24th, 2008 at 12:13 pm
I didn’t know you could search locally on Etsy. So cool. I believe strongly in buying locally, but I kind of love Canada and want to move there immediately. Since that is out of the question, I do take some strange satisfaction in shopping from there.
Bethiclauss last blog post..Grr…
June 24th, 2008 at 12:54 pm
I try to buy local and Canadian as much as I can, another very proud Canadian here as well. I must make an effort to get to the farmer’s market on Saturday mornings. Thanks for the reminder. Oh and I definately buy my beer local, Sleeman’s is right down the road from me.
Coris last blog post..Fingers & Toes
June 24th, 2008 at 5:22 pm
We load up on Canadian gear whenever I go home. I keep many home grown things in the house to give to people for various presents (house warming, etc…) We also put in requests for stuff when people come and visit! Kind of like payment! We also jump at the chance when we find anything made in Canada here in GA.
Here’s a silly thing…whenever we entertain we always play Canadian musicians. When we lived in Toronto we had always played East Coast musicians.
Tonight I will have dreams of Keith’s and Tim Horton oatcakes! Can you ship Keith’s?
Helens last blog post..Does your dancing show your age ?!?!?
June 24th, 2008 at 9:39 pm
I hope you have a wonderful blog party for buying Canadian. It is always good to have pride in your country. From one of your American blogging friends!
Shannon @ Gabi’s Worlds last blog post..Weekly Weigh In
June 24th, 2008 at 10:03 pm
I’m a big supporter of buying locally made goods. If I was Canadian, I’d buy from Canada too :). It is important to support your locals.
Gails last blog post..A Recipe for Those Rainy Sunday Afternoons …..
June 25th, 2008 at 1:14 am
Well, I’m American not Canadian; though I have been to Canada many times and bought a few things. Oh my I just remembered the very large Canada flag we got from an expressway island shop on our honeymoon 34 years ago. Sigh.
Anyway, as I was saying; I am not a shopper. It’s one of the reasons I don’t go back to retail; stores give me hives after a while. That and the shoplifters. I don’t even go to the mall much and it’s 2 miles away. If I need something I do research, maybe a fact-finding trip but going to buy is a singular event, in and out. I’m boring that way.
Love your new theme.
Debs last blog post..Lessons from Design Star
June 25th, 2008 at 5:25 pm
This might sound totally ridiculous and ignorant, but I’m just wondering how shopping in Canada is different from shopping in the US. (I’ve never been to Canada. I’ve been to England, though.)
Guinevere Meadows last blog post..In Which I Write a Week’s Worth of Posts in a Single Day
June 26th, 2008 at 1:51 am
great reminder about shopping local on etsy. that’s so cool that they have that option.
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