Candy Addict

Anyone that knows me OBVIOUSLY knows how MUCH I love Mill Avenue in Tempe. It's where I instantly fell in love with the city; Hippie Gypsy, Metalhead at the Library on Thursday nights, Rula Bula and their craic...it's where I met the love of my life and where we celebrate our anniversaries, birthdays, holidays...and where we'll be getting married!

This weekend is Tempe Festival of the Arts. I only know because of Facebook (go figure). So since I've missed it every year since moving here (except wandering through the tents in the middle of the night after a Slice's visit) I finally had the day and time to go! To celebrate our birthday weekend we decided to ride the light rail in and wander around for a few hours.

I found several great booths to visit, several online shoppes to keep in mind, and a few beautiful necklace ideas for the wedding. On our travels and right after visiting the new taco shop and being mildly filled we stepped outside of the swing gates to the brick sidewalk.

And there it was...Candy Addict. The whole store filled with the candies and influences of many generations of kids back when penny candy was really just a penny instead of a dollar. Back when the candy cigarettes and chew were acceptable, before drug abuse education and rehab. I got a little teary eyed, not gonna lie. I was choked up just being in the store with all of my favorite candies from when I was a kid, things I haven't eaten in over a decade! Being that it's my birthday and I'm already feeling another day wiser and more comfortable in my skin I was already in a wonderful and emotional mood.

I then happened upon the bulk candy aisle...I went a little nuts. $15.66 later I walked out with 2 lbs of candy, two of each flavor, one for me, one for Drew, so we can experience each other's favorites as a child together and enjoy the memories together. But hey, birthday money rocks and all of the bills are paid so why the hell not!? My shoulder is a little sore from the added baggage in my purse being carried around for hours during our stops and visits but just thinking of the quality time that I'll be able to spend with my future hubs is more precious than money can buy.