Last week I showed up to school to find a big fat note on the classroom window.
**Chem 142 & 152 CANCELLED.**
Immediately my body went into a state of shock, not only was lecture cancelled, but so was my lab. I don’t work on Thursdays because I am usually at school all day. This meant one thing: I had a complete, total, and 100% day off…from everything.
Insert excitedly awkward selfie.
I had already driven the 10 minutes to get to school, so I stayed around for an hour to do some homework, but then the rest of the day was mine. I had even finished my scheduled 5 mile run for the day. Ideally I would have loved to go for a hike, or even venture to Seattle, but the days get dark so fast and that wouldn’t have worked well.
Where I’d REALLY rather be…
So I did the next best thing, I wandered World Market.
There are many reasons why I love to wander World Market, starting with their coffee samples. Something about that tiny cup in my hand while walking the aisles makes me feel like a freshly groomed sheep. So light and free.
It’s also one of the few places I will willingly try flavored coffee.
I like to stare at things while I drink my coffee. Computer screens, my cat taking a bath, rain falling, strangers spilling ketchup on themselves, or paintings.
That coffee print is brilliant, and true! Except the part about the lighter roasts, I’m a full bodied-low acidity coffee kinda gal. Lighter roasts are too bright and floral for my liking. I want my coffee smooth enough to pair with…
…chocolate. All the chocolate. Chocolate is made in the kitchen, unless you’re being innovatively unsanitary. The kitchen calls for baking tools (and snacks.)
I NEED this ceramic style kitchen utensil holder! So rustic.
If you insist.
I’d serve so many cookies off that deer face. Cookies…which bake for allotted amounts of time. Time in which you’ll need a clock. Or six.
The worn looks to all these clocks speak to my recycling soul. I’d possibly find something similar digging in the trash, then it would be vintage right? Then I would smell…and I’d need a candle to walk around with to mask my scent.
When I close my eyes and sniff these candles I feel like I’m in a tropical land with rare succulents, and komodo dragons the length of Asia.
When it’s all said and done, really I just like to mentally decorate the house I don’t own, and buy chocolate. I walked out with the wasabi ginger bar and a classic sea salt bar. Both pair perfectly with coffee and a book…a book about coffee.
This is the first book I’ve purchased in years. I’m all about the library, but I had a Barnes and Noble gift card collecting dust. This was the perfect purchase. I love it.
Speaking of coffee, I am currently drinking a cup all the way from New Zealand. My dear friend Gigi sent me TWO bags. A good friend sends you a gift from her recent vacation, but a great friend sends you a gift of your true passions. ❤
Ground for a plunger, (or French press) how perfect.
“Extra smooth, extra caffeine, extra grunt.”
Q: What stores do you love to wander? Whole Foods, TJ’s, World Market, and REI top my list.
Blissfulbritt 
82 thoughts on “A Day Off”
briana1010
TJMaxx or Marshalls are my go to ‘wandering’ stores. Especially their home goods section with all the different olives and Kona coffee and random snacks.
mustafabasree
I can relate to so many things on here especially the joy of finding out chem was canceled..that and drinking coffee. I can pretty much live off coffee!
That Hiking Guy
Wow look who had a great day off lol. I wander Best Buy and REI and dream of lottery winnings lol
Elizabeth
I LOVE wondering World Market, excellent choice. I’m also a fan of kicking around Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s and Bed Bath and Beyond.
jaybagley
I definitely love to wander REI!
50statecanuck
That looks like an awesome place to wander around on a surprise day off!! I love walking around a market with hand crafts, etc.
themauritiangeographer
Craft shops, I just love wandering around them and looking at everything – usually wanting to buy everything as well.
pickyrunner
I love those random days off and you’re so busy these days that you deserve a day to relax and wander!! You keep giving me the hiking bug. I want to gooooo.
paleovirtus
I, unfortunately, have several retail weaknesses.
i) Tea shops. This is bad. Yixing clay teaware and good quality Pu-Erh tea do not come cheap.
ii) Chinese supermarkets. The problem here is that I often feel terribly guilty about not buying anything, and so end up purchasing incense. There are large temple complexes in South East Asia that have less incense than we do at home.
iii) Indian supermarkets. As above, but with packets of spice instead of incense. We are about to run out of cupboard space.
Lindsay @ A Runnaroundd Life
Unexpected days off are one of my favorite things in the universe! And I think I want everything you took a photo of–that antler tray is so awesome.
Lizzie S.
When I was in grad school and even undergrad, there was NOTHING better than cancelled class. I love to wander TJ Maxx, Target and Whole Foods (if it’s not crowded!).
Britta
TAKE ME THERE!!!!! Oh gosh I would just want everything and have the cutest apartment ON EARTH. There is this lovely shop in Nelson that is just like World Market and I would go there just to hang and escape. It was lovely. I haven’t found a perfect spot in Vancouver but Whole Foods is totally like that for me…maybe its because they serve wine at their cafe now? 😀 Sometimes I like to go to Whole Foods grab a coffee and a treat and just watch people. I know it sounds creepy but its actually so nice. Yay for a DAY OFF! And I am sure it was well overdue!
Brittany
Dude, not creepy at all. People watching is so much fun. We ALL do it so no shame. HAHA.
bobbyjessica2319
Ooooh I love surprise days off. I forgot that feeling g of a cancelled class. So nice.
And gosh. Feels like I never get to wander stores anymore. I miss that.
Shawna
yay for days off…and that store looks awesome. love the earthy, woodsy look of those pieces. and i want to hike to that spot! ahhh amazingness.
lovehealcook
So cute! I may have to try that book out 🙂
Amy @ A Desert Girl
World Market is one of my favorite places. And it’s dangerous – oh so dangerous – I want to buy everything. I don’t drink red wine, but I walk in that place and instantly think, “Box it up, boys, I’ll take one of each.”
Ashley @ A Lady Goes West
I like to stare at the computer when I have my tea in the morning, by the way. And I love to wander stores and NEVER do it. Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s, Pottery Barn, Nordstrom Rack, HomeGoods, Pier One. You know, the basics. 🙂
Heather
I want a World Market!!! No fair! We don’t have those here.
Heather
PS GiGi is so kind! What a good Friend 🙂
Brittany
Right!? She’s such a gem. 🙂
cubicleshark
For wandering, the Rochester Public Market, Barnes and Noble, and Beers of the World (picture a full sized supermarket with nothing but even kind if beer made the world over), and the M&M store in Times Square. The smell of chocolate in there makes my endorphins spike.
Jennie
I interviewed for a development job at the Whole Foods corporate offices here in Austin. Had I gotten the job I would have worked directly above their flagship store. It would have been heaven but it wasn’t meant to be.
jennifer prod
wandering awesome stores is often more inspiring than an art museum or gallery of some sort, and when you throw in samples – um… it’s a no-brainer. my top shops? you could probably guess, but imma tellya anyway: anthro, paper-source, whole foods (the samples!!!), and this cute little paper shop here called i like you. crossing my fingers more classes get cancelled for you 🙂
Addison Taylor
Looks like such an awesome day off! I love wandering around Home Goods. Or IKEA… Ohhhh, IKEA. haha
kathy
i stumbled upon this small coffee shop by my house and i wandered in there for hours; mostly smelling the coffee – i LOVE that smell. also my faves: michaels and basically any bookstore.
spectacuLAUR
I need this book in my life. I’m probbbbbbably going to look at it tomorrow if I go to Barnes and Noble after my PT appointment!
Christie @ The Weekday Table
WOO! canceled classes are the BEST! Because of the big snow in Boston, we’ve had SO many canceled classes. Oh- and World Market looks awesome (I don’t have one near me!)
http://www.theweekdaytable.wordpress.com
GiGi Eats Celebrities
Why in the fu** have I not wandered WORLD MARKET lately – GIGI, jump on it! DITCH jury duty next week and go wandering…. I think I should just tell life I am unavailable for a day and GO FOR IT! LOL!
PS: I AM BEYONDDDDDDDDDD thrilled that you love the coffee 😀 😀 :D!
Brittany
You have JURY DUTY?! You did not tell me this…yes I am yelling because I KNOW EVERYTHING ABOUT YOUR LIFE, but did not know this. Long story short ditch that shit and go wander. HAHA.
GiGi Eats Celebrities
I do next week! FML x 1000
Miss Polkadot
Jury duty?! I’m honestly jealous. Call me weird but I’ve been thinking about this lately, hoping I’d be picked but somebody hinted at me I might not because of my profession. Want to change identities for those days 😉 ?
purejackie
i like to wander around target, barns and noble (always smells like homemade cookies and coffee – from their cafe) or marshalls. My alternative is taking walks/hiking in local parks (pnw has the best hidden gems)
http://www.purejackie.com
Hannah
I’m trying to imagine what sea salt smells like… But anyway, I love World Market too 🙂
annieemmy
Holy Perfect Day, Batman. That sounds ideal. Stores I love to wander? Barnes & Noble, World Market, IKEA, and Pier 1.
Emma @em-poweredwellness
Nothing better than a surprise free day! I used to live right by a World Market and spent wayyy too much time in there…or maybe not enough time…
howtobejillian
Oh my gosh a surprise day off sounds awesome!
Lauren
That looks like such a lovely day and how fun are unexpected cancellations?!!! I could wonder Home Goods forever, as well as, Whole Foods!
earthlyradiance
World Market for sure! Costco too. You can see ALL.THE.THINGS. In really obscene sizes! Great post. You are the cutest!
Brittany
OH GOODNESS, HOW could I forget Costco!! YES YES, this is on my list too!
Miss Polkadot
We don’t have World Market over here but it sounds like IKEA with an added foods section. I liiike the idea. As in: it’s a place my wallet would cry at.
Choc Chip Uru
That feeling must have been AWESOME, not having to do anything is the best 😀
You obviously had an excellent day 😀
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
mikeytbull
Phew! I feel like I had the day off with you – taking me around World Market! (Don’t know what shop it is – being a Brit, sorry) but looks great. Any place with random stuff AND coffee is a winner. I also love Ikea or any book store – just as long as they do coffee right?! 🙂
Brittany
Give me coffee and random things to look at and I’m a happy camper!! It doesn’t take much for me. 🙂
P
I love wandering around stores like there’s no tomorrow, haha! I love all the classic ‘health food’ stores…especially on sample days 😀
Aja
Cancelled classes are the best, especially when it gives you the day off. I love to wander World Market, and also Target, but right now the only stores I can wander are Fred Meyer and the student store on campus. Soon, though, I will be able to wander more stores…
Ellie
I love to wander Barnes and Nobel and the Salvation Army (specially if it’s half price Wesnesday!) I wish there was a Whole Foods or Trader Joes near me! I keep meaning to take a trip there on my next day off…this was two months ago. I don’t mind wandering a grocery store, but I prefer a farmer’s market in the summer. It’s so much fun! That coffee book looks so cute!
dorkyxana
Target, Safeway, and Trader Joes, and World Market are some of my favorite “wandering stores”! I love going through the aisles and looking for sales or new products! Bonus points for having free samples! If I ever have some time in a neighborhood with a bookstore, I am so there!
Glad you got some you time to relax and enjoy the free day! 🙂
Amanda Afield
Whole foods I could wander for hours… And anthropology as well. So many things I want to buy!!
Arman @ thebigmansworld
Ignore me as I giggle over the fact that you drove 10 minutes.
Seeing as it’s called ‘WORLD’ market…where is the Aussie section.
Brittany
I KNOW, I know…10 minutes isn’t far. In fact I drive further to get to work. IT WAS the principle of the matter hahaha. There are some Aussie related items!! I will take photos of things that remind me of what you might see in your area and IG them to you. HA.
Nicole Marie Story
TARGET!!!!!!!!!
With Gwendolyn sitting in the cart when we’re not caught and thrown out. 😉
The salt and coconut candle… WANT.
And now you’ve tempted me to drive the 15-ish miles to our closest World Market to explore.
PS your nose ring looks so fab, and I want one, but it would disrupt my rigorous face cleansing system and the work of my clarisonic mia 2!!!!!!!!! At least I think such is the case. So pretty!
dolthack
Thank you for this post, it made me feel like I was there. The last time I was in Seattle I spent HOURS wandering around, ultimately finding myself at Pike’s Place – but on the way there I stumbled on the set up of a David Chihuly project and actually got to hold some of the pieces! It was very exciting. Your post brought back that memory, so thanks again.
Brittany
What a cool experience! One of my favorite things to do when I find myself in downtown Seattle is to wander Pike’s Place. They have some of my favorite treats, and the energy is unbeatable.
Norm Houseman
I have to tell you that I love the way that your mind is also wandering as you stroll. Very nice post.
Jessica
Full body coffee lovers for the win! I don’t like delicate coffee – I like the robust, punch you in the face, industrial strength coffee.
Brittany
Industrial strength…I love that. HA!
ingrid
Great pictures!!! I want everything …Great day off 🙂
liathebookworm
Tea shops, BOOKSHOPS, anywhere with candles, open air markets…
Be Sol-Ful
World Market is MY FAVORITE place to wander….such a magical place! This post is wonderful!
Amanda @ .running with spoons.
Completely unfair! We don’t have World Market up here in Canada, and I’ve never managed to make it into a store while travelling. I’ll add it to the bucket list. But it sounds kind of like what Ikea is to me. I swear I walk into that store and lose 3 hours of my life every.single.time.
PR-Bike
Oooooh…….REI!
Lauren @ ihadabiglunch
This is literally EXACTLY how I imagined you would spend your day off 😉 hahaha World Market is the best! of course you fit coffee in there somehow. I remember getting those emails back in college that class was randomly cancelled — best feeling ever!
Amy
So THIS is where you found the ginger wasabi chocolate!! Definitely need to get my hands on a bar of that. 🙂 And oh my goodness, I remember how happy I was on the days chem labs were cancelled… A glorious 3-4 hours of freedom! Which I generally used for sitting in the sunshine or baking and blogging. Surprised? Probably not. 😉
An Unrefined Vegan
Isn’t that the BEST feeling?! PS I want one of those pseudo-old clocks. And the chocolate – all of the chocolate.
Rach @ This Italian Family
World Market is SO fun! I love that place. There’s no telling what treasures you’ll find each time you go. 🙂 Also, HOORAY for a day off! That’s fabulous!
Luv What You Do
A surprise day off is better than a planned day off! I love to wonder Home Goods and Nordstrom rack on top off Whole Foods and Trader JOe’s! Target is just to dangerous as I buy EVERYTHING!
hellotofit
Your selfies are awesome and beautiful; and not awkward at all! We wander similarly, friend! I love perusing the aisles of World Market. TJMaxx/Marshalls/Homegoods are also good wandering stores.
di @ life of di.
Hooray for canceled college classes! I think that happened to me mabye once? Boo. Also, I STILL haven’t been to World Market. I really need to venture there because there is one three miles from my house. I will probably have to keep putting it off until I find a job – we are on a pretty strict budget right now since I’m not working. Only the necessities (and I’m sure I’d go overboard if I headed into World Market 😉 )
Oh, and I love to wander in bookstores or eclectic shops!
The Zen Kat
Ah this looks so fun! Random wonderings are the best!
Mellie Dee
cancelled classes freeing up your whole day ….best day ever! glad you got to take a time off for yourself.
Khushboo Thadani (@KhushbooThadani)
Ah the joy of having a completely free day at your disposal- it really doesn’t get any better! I swear- Whole Foods is a time (and money)- go in to get one thing and before you know, there goes 2 hours of your life you ain’t ever getting back!
Dannii @ Hungry Healthy Happy
Sea salt and coconut candle? That sounds amazing!
The Vegan 8
Omg I love love World Market too! In fact, we bought our dining room set there…among many other things. I seriously love all their stuff….it it totally my style with the dark woods and earthy pieces. I absolutely love their chocolate selection and there is no better combo than espresso and chocolate….except maybe peanut butter and chocolate…so be sure to check out my post today on that one, LOL! I know we both love our chocolate, haha!
I also love to wander ANY home or kitchen type store….I love them all and could spend hours looking at kitchen supplies.
Feasting on Sunshine
Not sure I realized you’re a neighbor of mine. SNOWLAKE! So gorgeous. Cannot wait for it to dry up around here a bit so hiking is more doable. Fun post. Loved walking through the Market with you!
Brittany
HA! I love that you recognized that lake. I am sooo ready for summer hiking.
Pamplemousse
Your excitedly awkward selfie is adorable!! You’re so pretty 😊
jejansonius
Oh my stars that coffee and chocolate has my mouth watering over here so gooD!
Meghan@CleanEatsFastFeets
Well so long as you feel like a freshly groomed sheep. We can’t have no shaggy mangled looking sheep walking around.
World Market is such a fun store. I love wandering the aisles as well.
Adventures in Kevin's World
The world market curry chocolate is divine. As good as Vosges brand for half the price. Yummmmm….
And I could happily decorate my apartment entirely from that store.
allieksmith
REI is so much fun to wander around in! Jimmy made the railings at our local REI (his family’s business makes a lot of steel railings, etc.), so he likes to come along and check out his handiwork, haha.
I have never been to World Market (sadly!), but I would love to one day. I love the utensil holder and the clocks!
willrunforpizza
Yay for your day off! I love wandering Dicks. As in sporting goods…dicks sporting goods. And I guess the mall. I kinda hate the mall. I hate shopping at the mall. I park at the entrance by Buckle, run in, and run out, and that is my mall shopping. But I DO like wandering around sometimes to just people watch!