Day One Part Two: Shopping in Auckland

Still on my first day in Auckland... We visited Blair's parents at their home on a hill with a great view, and had a nice dinner out, but between that I had to pick up a couple things, and we entered the world of The Warehouse. This seems to be the closest thing NZ has to Target, though in some ways it's a bit more like Big Lots. But way way more kitsch. There were so many items I would have purchased had I not been so far from Palm Desert!

This was painful to resist; I so want to decorate my garden with these!

And how about a passel of colourful light-up parrots?

Owls and pups... Anything can be given large lights for e

For special occasions, you can get an owl that glows from inside, or an urban pig (is that a pig?) that lights up automatically when dark!

These creatures don't light up but come in myriad poses and outfits.

Blair models the latest in light-up garden delight:

Seriously, I would have bought this were it not so heavy!

An army of gnomes! Note that the "L.O.L." guys don't really seem to be laughing (maybe a very slight chuckle) and have exactly the same expression as the ones wishing you a "G'day"...

Blair gives better expression!

Now, every yeard needs a pair of pink flamingos, including mine!

And a kiwi, although this one is just on a plate!

More googly eyes!!

And more flamingos!!

And even MORE flamingos! These reminded me a bit of some ones I saw in Tanzania and had to pass on...

I just might have to go back there and get a couple of these flower power pinwheels...

New Zealanders like to snuggle. You often see throws and blankets in coffee houses or hangouts, and The Warehouse had the largest selection of throws, pillows, cushions, duvets, onesies, slippers etc. I had ever seen. Hark, what's this?!!

I think I NEED this pillow!!!

Finally, I go to find some cozy insoles for my hiking boots and see something from my childhood. I liked to watch my father polish his shoes cause there was a little kiwi on the shoe polish package. And here we are, Kiwi in Kiwi land! Right next to the enticingly named Trenz Odour Stop...