The limits of online shopping

Image courtesy of PCMag.com

I never realized that online shopping has its limits. I guess because usually when I buy stuff online, I have already decided or know exactly what I'm looking for and I buy that particular item online because it will get me a better price. Well, as a first time mommy trying to buy baby stuff online that I have never really taken the time to check out in a store, uh, it's harder than I thought. Why am I online shopping? Well, I live in China and many of the products that I think I want either aren't in China or are two to three times the price of the States. So, with friends coming to visit next month, I've been trying to buy stuff online to have brought over that we know we will need when the baby comes. In between moments of shopping bliss and complete frustration, I have realized that online shopping has its limits. 

Take for example online reviews. You can only rely on them so much! And then, which ones do you believe? The five star account telling you that it is the best product ever? Or the one star review saying that it broke within the first week of use? Being able to see the product in person would help to confirm a good or bad review. Especially for someone like me who doesn't like to do a lot of research. Reading review after review is tiring and overwhelming, not my favorite. 

Maternity clothes is another thing that is hard to buy online, especially when you've never gone shopping in person for them! Fortunately, I had a few friends here who had some maternity clothes that I could try on and see what sizes from which brands did or did not work for me. But, seriously, buying maternity clothes online when you don't know your size - not ideal. 

Some things you just need to see in person, like a diaper bag. At least for me, being able to touch and play around with and put things in a bag in person is way more helpful than reading a bazillion online reviews and looking at pictures and videos. And yes, they have helpful videos for diaper bags. But honestly, I just want to pick it out in person! 

Don't get me wrong, I am incredibly thankful for online shopping. I just also wish that it had a feature where I could step through my computer screen and try out the product. Although, even if that  feature was available, it probably wouldn't be recommended for pregnant women. :-)

Summer in Review

Well, we're back in China!  And it is HOT.  Humid and hot.  Like 104F but feels like 120F.  Yup, really hot.  Thankful our air conditioning works quite well.  We did hear that this is the hottest summer in 63 years, and we timed our return just right to be back for the hottest week!  It was torture.  But we're now down into the 90's, so it actually is bearable to be outside.  Still hot, but bearable.

But this post isn't about how hot it is here, this post is about our summer back in the States.  It was a great time with family & friends.  We went camping and played at the beach, took our first dual family vacation with both sides of our family (and had a wonderful time), ate a lot of yummy food, saw many friends and really enjoyed ourselves.  It was refreshing and at the end of it all we were ready to come back to China and our home here.  

And now, because it's easier to post pictures to tell a story, here is our summer in pictures!  Enjoy.

Flying over the Pacific Ocean

Seeing WSU friends in Spokane!

Getting our dance on with friends at their wedding.  Such a fun time.

Hanging out with my two crazy sisters.

Tabby came to visit!  And she got her ears pierced.  Such a brave woman.

More WSU friends came to visit me in Prosser! 

We went on vacation and my mom bought a hydrangea.  My sister was very excited (but I still want to know who buys a hydrangea on vacation?).

Me & the sisters

Both our families!  Fun times at the beach. 

I had some R&R with the 'rents dog, Yappy (yes, that is her name).  She likes to hang out on the hammock.  

Went camping at the beach with friends and some Chinese interns visiting our hometown.

Playing games at the beach.

Finding starfish eating muscles at the beach.  Interesting?  Or Gross?  

Mandatory kodak moment.  

We got to see our former puppy, Nala.  I'm pretty sure she remembered us.  

Car ride to the beach!  Fun times with friends. 

More fun times with friends who we didn't expect to see (they now live in Nebraska). 

I tried not to include any boring pictures, like all the pictures I took of food.  Or sunsets.  Or the sky in general.  You can find those on Instagram. ;-)

Getting into the spirit

One thing about living in China that is hard is missing out on all the holiday festivities I know that are taking place back home.  Christmas music starting to play everywhere, lights going up, people out shopping, advent, trees, nativities, parties, egg nog...ok, I think you get it.  I miss it.  Good thing I have videos like this one to help me get in the spirit.  I haven't stooped to the level of streaming it to the TV yet while putting up our tree...but hey, that's not a bad idea. 

On a side note, how do they do that?  Amazing...