On Friday, I picked up where I left off with my 2024 Christmas shopping. Instead of an unprecedented third day in a row at Westmoreland Mall, I took to Pittsburgh for the next round and visited the South Hills.
This is something that I’ve done since 2016. The first trip was memorable and it kickstarted a tradition for me. Every year since then (save for 2020), I’ve taken turns shopping in either the South Hills or in Robinson. I also venture into the North Hills and Cranberry as well when I’m visiting Toastmasters clubs.
I like to travel because of my previous work experience where I’d be in the Pittsburgh area counting inventory at various stores. Even as I started working closer to home at Giant Eagle, I still enjoy making these trips to Pittsburgh on occasion. However, I also know why I wanted to switch jobs and not have quite a commute anymore. The reason I enjoyed traveling to other Toastmasters clubs was because back then, I had that leverage working for me. Of course, I was a recipient of the Spirit of Toastmasters award in the Fall of 2020.
Every shopping trip has to include a trip to Market District, thus why I like going to the South Hills or Robinson (or sometimes Wexford). I used to go to buy seasonal beer from Sam Adams. More recently, I’ve began to pick up some things at the store for Christmas Eve for my mom like candied dill pickles and chicken crackers. These things were a staple at my Grandma’s house on holidays. Today at Market District, I also picked up a bag of Sarris Pretzels and some Peppermint Bark. I also got some mustard and some little sausages. This is all stuff we can have for our guests on Christmas Eve, besides the main course. I wonder if we’ll do charcuterie again.
In the first year that I started this tradition, I pulled out all the stops and began my shopping trip at Kohls before going to Michaels and the former Toys R Us. These are all located in the Village Square Mall in Bethel Park. After that I spent some time in the mall before going to the Market District along the way and eating lunch that consisted of hibachi. This was a few years before the COVID-19 pandemic occurred, so it was safe to do this. On that trip, I also got my niece (who was four at the time) at gift card for Build-A-Bear workshop because I thought it was cute. I did it twice, also getting her a gift card for her birthday the next year when she turned five. After that I stopped because making your own precious memories aren’t cheap. I guess my family doesn’t take to shopping in Pittsburgh like I do.
Stylish 🍒 