Did you know that there are now Crocs that are actually kind of sexy and have high heels? My sister picked a pair up at some kind of Croc hut run by a very nice lady.
Despite mid-year resolutions not to shop I got swept away by a tiny jade tree bonsai for our kitchen window sill. I am now a civilized and grown-up being a bonsai owner — like Mr. Miyagi, pruning my little karate kid.
We watched a little tango on the stage at the centre of the International Pavilion, drifting over with the music to peek at a lovely number with a couple who looked straight out of a black-and-white film. As a tango dancer herself, my sister was able to offer some juicy behind-the-scenes info (no, I can’t pass it on). It was great seeing a large and apparently appreciative audience watching the dancers.
My sister narrowly avoided buying a patterned orange silk dress from a stall full of colourful Indian silks. Crocs are at least practical, but would you get much wear out of a backless orange silk dress… Well, actually, she probably would wear it, so scratch that argument.
Another thing I noticed about the CNE shopping experience this year was… furniture? There was a lot of furniture. (And you could polish it all with your Sham-Wow.) In terms of window-shopping, if I won the lottery I would go for a whirlpool jacuzzi with a built-in stereo and coloured lights (for people who can afford a jacuzzi but don’t have a stereo, or who want to listen to music with their ears submerged in bubbling water?) Next to my jacuzzi would be the $15,000 life-sized bronze lion. I could put towels on it.