Want to see a little loot from a recent shopping trip? I mentioned last Friday that I hit Hema, a Dutch department store with eight locations in Germany, one of which happens to be near to me. I first discovered it while vacationing in Amsterdam (my travel review here) last Fall and I've been hoping to get back ever since to spend money I don't have. :)

My friend and I hopped the train and headed up to Oldenburg (charming old city, great shopping district) where we spent the afternoon drooling in Hema where things have the most adorable packaging, the prices are right, and the selection is great. Here is a glimpse of some of my loot, what I could fit in my tote anyway -- I'm so glad that I don't have a car, I'm certain I would have spent a lot of money on more cute ceramics!

My favorite departments include the home accessories and kitchen goods, stationery, kid's toys, and the snacks & candy! Oh the candy! I love the prices too - super affordable. For instance, the small blue cups were under a euro each and the aqua mugs were under 3 euros. All of the ceramics shown above, including the gray bowl, white doily-patterned plate, and the snowflake silver/white bowl was only around 13 euros ($20 USD)! That's a great deal. And the white candlestick holders were around 10 euros for the pair. I love them, they look great with my aqua candles I think. :) I love using aqua in my home in the winter, it's an unexpected color to add to my lilac, black, grey and white/cream mix but with the silvery accents that I have around and the ethnic prints and patterns I think it's a gorgeous hue to work in to my wintery look.

I am so glad that I found a Target equivalent here though I think Hema is smaller and has a bit more to choose from when it comes to cute stuff like postcards and ceramics. If we had taken the express bus from Oldenburg over the border to the Netherlands I heard that we would have been able to shop at a much larger Hema -- but we did not have the time so we've agreed to head back in a few months, perhaps with a car, to hit the next one. I am already excited for my next Hema trip!

Have you shopped at this store? Did you like it? Aren't their postcards the best?!

(images: holly becker for decor8)