Support Local Shopping Series: Hi there friends, Iâm Lauren! For those who are new to my blog, you may not already know that two of my [many] passions are traveling and shopping. Combine these two loves and so was born my Support Local Shopping Series! In this series I share all about the local vendors and artisans Iâve discovered during my travels! Whether theyâre artists, designers, craftsmen, or farmers every single one has something incredibly special to share! If youâre someone who likes to bring home unique gifts, seeks out truly one-of-a-kind souvenirs, or simply loves supporting the locals, youâve come to the right place!
Support Local: Shopping at Four Corners
Have you heard of the infamous Four Corners Monument in the US? If not, itâs a landmark and popular tourist attraction in Navajo Nation where four US states [New Mexico, Arizona, Utah and Colorado] meet. Itâs actually the only place in the country where four different states intersect at a perfect point.
Unfortunately, the monument itself is pretty much a complete tourist trap: it costs $5 a person to enter the parking lot and is basically just one long line of people waiting to pose for a picture. [Which of course, I couldnât resist] 
The concept behind it all is pretty cool [I mean who doesnât want to say they were in four places at once?], but itâs turned into just another tacky site attracting the camera-carrying masses. If you donât Instagram it, did it even happen?
Still, if you happen to be in the area, Iâd definitely say the Four Corners Monument is worth a visit! And surprisingly, this isnât the gramer in me talking, itâs the shopper ð
Lining the monument, in a square crossing the state borders, are a bunch of little stands run by the local Navajos. Some of the merchandise is a little dingy and definitely overpriced, but if you take a closer look you can find some real gems (pun intended)!
Luckily I got to visit during the off-season, so I was able to spend a good amount of time browsing without getting hassled by the usual crowds.
Visiting on an off day also gave me an opportunity to chat with the different Navajo craftsmen I planned to purchase from. They were all so friendly and open and some of their stories were really extraordinary!
Meeting the artist behind a craft is truly my favorite part of shopping!
These were my two favorite stands:
Leroy & Erma Jewelry
Leroy and Ermaâs handmade bracelets attracted my attention right away. Their elegant display, sprinkled with stones, propping up the delicate bangles with small rocks certainly stood out among the other stands! These nickel-silver arm charms are adorned with hand-etched designs and semi-precious stones like turquoise. Leroy and his wife design each and every piece themselves and while they may be considered costume jewelry, theyâre gorgeous and a real steal! At only $20 apiece you better believe I didnât leave empty handed!
There were also similarly styled reasonably priced necklaces and earrings available!
Leroy had the warmest smile and he even invited me in the back for a picture!
Wayne Tomâs Navajo Sandpainting
The art of Navajo Sandpainting was originally used by native medicine men during their healing ceremonies. The medicine man would create a large loose painting, either on animal skins or cloth and place the patient in the middle of it. They would then run some of the sand from the painting over the patient during the ritual. Later the piece would be destroyed, hoping to eliminate any illness along with it.
Today sandpainting is a popular tourist curiosity and Navajo art form, despite the fact that the pieces available for sale are rarely authentic. Authentic sandpaintings are considered sacred to the Navajos and are not to be used solely for viewing purposes. For this reason most of the available souvenirs are made with deliberate errors using variations of the originals. Still every colorful detailed design holds a specific meaning important to Navajo values and ideals.
Wayne Tom is kind of a big deal in the Navajo sandpainting world, which may not be surprising taking a look at his intricate artwork. His art has been shown in trade shows and galleries all over the US! My father and I had the pleasure of talking to him for quite a while and he thoroughly explained his story and his craft to us!
All of his designs are applied freehand using pulverized rocks, roots, flowers and bark to create natural color. He sticks these different minerals to the sand using his extremely complicated, top-secret ingredient– Elmerâs glue! Wayne Tom swears by this method and assured us the color’s not going anywhere!
Wayne also finishes off each painting with an explanation of its meaning, his signature and the date it was made making it the perfect gift or keepsake!
So there you have it! Not everything about Four Corners is a complete tourist trap!
Have you ever been to the Four Corners Monument? What did you think about it? Do you like to support local artisans when traveling?
Are there any local vendors in your town or city that youâd like to rave about? Send me a message at Lauren@laurenonlocation.com to contribute to my Support Local Shopping Series!
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![âšâHow does this ______ support the woman Iâm becoming?â . ððªðð ðªð¯ ðµð©ðŠ ð£ðð¢ð¯ð¬ [___] â ð¥ðŠð€ðªðŽðªð°ð¯, ð®ð°ð·ðŠ, ð€ð©ð¢ð¯ðšðŠ, ð±ð¶ð³ð€ð©ð¢ðŽðŠ, ð«ð°ð£, ðŠðµð€. . This is a question I often ask myself. One that I thoroughly work through before making any big decision, and one that I consider when Iâm at a crossroads. Itâs also a question I ask the women I work with. . One of my core values as a coach is that âthrough alignment and intentional action, you have the power to design the life you desire.â Answering this question helps you intentionally make decisions that promote your growth and forward momentum. By acting from the beliefs and perspectives of your future self, you are in turn becoming that person. . Wondering what this looks like in practice? Here are two personal examples: . †In October I signed an apartment contract with my boyfriend here in Madrid, before having my visa situation figured out. I wasnât sure exactly how I was going to make my move happen, but I saw myself living in that beautiful, open, and airy apartment by January 2020. . And so, I honored future Lauren, and I signed that contract. By mid-January, I was unpacking my suitcase and setting up my new home office IN MADRID. . †When launching my coaching business, that pesky doubtful voice in my head was relentless. I started to wonder if I should take on another freelance marketing client, to feel more financially secure while starting out. My mentor helped me see that I was channeling a lot of my precious time and energy into revamping my resume, networking for marketing clients, and searching through open positions. . Was this lateral step truly moving me in the direction of where I wanted to be? Or was it the fear of failure kicking in? I stopped my search. Within the first week of creating space for forward momentum, I had 3 new, paying, COACHING clients. . Moral of the story: decisions that take you further along your desired path are often scary. Theyâre often a stretch, and a leap of faith. BUT if theyâre made in alignment with what you truly want, theyâre also a huge leap in the right direction. . â¡ïžWhat can you do to support the person you want to become?](https://scontent.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.2885-15/e15/s320x320/101054410_559049891468569_561212198824284944_n.jpg?_nc_ht=scontent.cdninstagram.com&_nc_ohc=NXkHcGPIb8wAX8dDao2&oh=6764002f3f8cbebd623331617c86daf0&oe=5F03D8A4)
![ð¥Here in Madrid weâve officially entered Phase 1 of Corona quarantine de-escalation!!â â That means: ð¯ââïž We can now gather in groups of up to 10 people [while respecting social distance]â ð» Restaurants and terraces are open for business again [at 50% capacity]â ððŒââïžThereâs no more 1 hour limit on outdoor exerciseâ â Thereâs still a long way to go, but weâre making moves in the right direction. Slowly easing back into the Spain I know and love ðªðªðžâ€ïžâ â The beauty of the Spanish culture lies in their social way of life. Itâs all about meeting up with friends for an afternoon caña ðº, enjoying a 3-hour meal ð¥over wine ð·and âsobremesa,â overcrowding sidewalk terraces, and loud chitter-chatter ððŒinto the wee hours of the night âŠâ â â¬ïžð»ððð is the Spain that grabbed a firm hold of my heart and beckoned me back to Madrid.â â Needless to say, my long-awaited return to Madrid was not at all what I'd envisioned. Instead, just after arriving, the city streets of Madrid became an eerie scene of fear and abandonment. The only human life present was scurrying masked adults overtly avoiding each other.â â The past few months have been INTENSE, but theyâve also been really eye-opening. Actually, in spite of all the social-distance, I feel ðŠðšð«ð ððšð§ð§ððððð ð°ð¢ðð¡ ðŠð²ð¬ðð¥ð ðð§ð ðšðð¡ðð«ð¬ ðð¡ðð§ ðð¯ðð«.â â And so, I hope weâll all walk away from this a bit stronger. A bit more humble, and a bit more clear on whatâs truly important.â â â¡ïžWhat do you hope to take away from this experience?](https://scontent.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.2885-15/e35/p320x320/100931759_625004854762761_2399867947283066953_n.jpg?_nc_ht=scontent.cdninstagram.com&_nc_ohc=1YZQNxWAc3wAX9A3IDI&oh=2d988f41837a57a7e2644102394e65fb&oe=5F02ADE4)
![This is what happens when I remember I LIVE IN MADRID ððâ â I can remember so many sleepless nights longing to move back here. Years researching and plotting my return. For so long it seemed impossible. So close, but just out of reach.â â And now, here I am. Once again calling my beloved Madrid, HOME â€ïžâ â Although this isnât the âglorious returnâ that I had envisioned, I'm here. And that's what ð§ððð¡ð¡ð® matters.â â I'm still not sure exactly ðð€ð¬ I made this dream of mine a reality. All I know is that ð ð°ðµðŒðð² ððŒ ð¯ð²ð¹ð¶ð²ðð² ððµð®ð ð ð°ðŒðð¹ð±. ðð»ð± ððµð®ð ðºð¶ð»ð±ðð²ð ððµð¶ð³ð ðºð®ð±ð² ððµð² ð±ð¶ð³ð³ð²ð¿ð²ð»ð°ð². The rest, well, it fell into place.â â I now know that the energy and intentions I put out into the world are more powerful than I ever could have imagined. I have the power to design the life I desire. [and so do you! ð€]â â When we choose to believe in ourselves and live our lives with intention, so much is possible. â â Don't take my word for it, try it out yourself ððªðŒ . . âš If youâre interested in how I can help you design the life you desire â¡ïž send me a DM ð](https://scontent.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.2885-15/e15/p320x320/98132830_162420308596018_2976409652250542727_n.jpg?_nc_ht=scontent.cdninstagram.com&_nc_ohc=CafF4XMNScIAX8mamYS&oh=b37c0f428c6ededa99e1adbf072cdafd&oe=5F044D0E)
![Heyoooo [new] friends, Iâm Lauren! If youâre new around these parts, itâs SO nice to e-meet you and Iâm so happy youâre here! ð€ð . Iâve been LOVING all the genuine connections Iâve been making on this platform over the past few months. Instagram used to be a semi-toxic environment for me. I let myself get caught up in the self-comparison game and began holding myself to impossible standards. But lately, Iâve found that all thatâs really shifted. Recently Iâve been able to find the good here. If you use it in the right way, Instagram can provide an extremely supportive community of like-minded new friends. I made a commitment to myself to quit striving for perfection, and JUST BE ME. Who would have thought that letting my guard down, sharing my story, and getting more real here on Instagram would lead to the connections I had been striving for all along. And so, in the spirit of keeping things REAL, here are 3 fun [& silly] facts about me that you may not know:. . ð¶ Iâm totally, completely, and overwhelmingly dog-obsessed. Iâm that weirdo in the street following you and trying to talk to / touch your dog. [Sorry, not sorry.] I could scroll through photos and videos of golden retrievers on social media for hours on end. . ðŽ Iâm a compulsive napper. I can nap pretty much anywhere at any time and try to get in a 15-minute power nap at least once a day. In cars, forget about it- cars are my weakness and rock me right into a deep slumber. Iâve been known to fall asleep on a 5-minute drive to the supermarket ⊠. ðI broke my orbital bone [that tiny really delicate bone under your eye] while horsing around with friends in high school and saw two of everything for almost a whole year. ð[I can laugh about it now âŠ] I have a plastic implant in my head and if you look closely youâll see that my eyes are actually two different sizes. ð I used to be REALLY self-conscious about this and try to hide it, but Iâve come to accept that thatâs just my face and if peeps donât like it they donât have to look ð ð€ðŒ . . I truly love connecting with and getting to know YOU! So, please, introduce yourself below and drop some fun[ny] facts. â¬ïžâ¬ïž Or if youâd rather, send me a DM ð](https://scontent.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.2885-15/e35/p320x320/96712961_3052085671497384_3404373887845731336_n.jpg?_nc_ht=scontent.cdninstagram.com&_nc_ohc=sZcPQu3yFBgAX8iYRvm&oh=065929e280f1357b76f5047a9b4ece78&oe=5F032442)
![This week Iâm traveling through my tastebuds to ððŠð¥ððð! âð®ð±â â â While travel is certainly off the table right now â â [ð ð«ð¶ðŽðµ ð€ð¢ð¯ð€ðŠðððŠð¥ ð®ðº ð§ððªðšð©ðµ ð©ð°ð®ðŠ ð¢ðµ ðµð©ðŠ ðŠð¯ð¥ ð°ð§ ðµð©ðªðŽ ð®ð°ð¯ðµð© ð], Iâve been looking for creative ways to keep my curious travel spirit satisfied. That usually means whipping up some international eats in the kitchen. ð©ðŒâð³â â â And so, today Iâm finally sharing my ðŠððððŠððšðð recipe! ð
ð³ð¶â â â This Israeli and Middle Eastern dish has become one of my brunch go-toâs. Itâs SO easy to make, healthy, and a real crowd-pleaser. ðâ â â Iâve been working on perfecting my unique twist on a Shakshuka recipe for a while now, and Iâm proud to say that I finally got it! Of course, thereâs always room for improvement, but Iâm happy with it. ð¬This recipe features poached eggs in a spiced tomato sauce with chopped spinach and crumbled feta. I love to serve it with warm crusty bread and hot sauce. ð€€â â â â
Save this post to try my ðŠð¶ðºðœð¹ð² ðŠðœð¶ð»ð®ð°ðµ ðŠðµð®ðžððµððžð® â¡ïžâ â â Have you ever tried Shakshuka? If not, would you like to? â¬ïžâ¬ïž](https://scontent.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.2885-15/e35/s320x320/96260402_247784146662201_2196877943157889965_n.jpg?_nc_ht=scontent.cdninstagram.com&_nc_ohc=M9k-tu9ePKIAX816XTI&oh=87c698f8dd83a29865935025422847ae&oe=5F051006)
What a great way to support the Navajo people….such a great cause and those artisanal items are so pretty!
Thanks Natalia, I thought so too! Let’s just say I bought a few too many! ð
I didn’t know that monument existed, that’s cool! As for these stalls, the produce looks amazing, I love all of the beautiful blue colours of the jewellery! And I love this idea for a series ð
Thanks Marcella! Let me know if you ever want to contribute! ð
Even though it’s a tourist trap, I would still love to go to the Four Corners, it would just be so awesome to be in multiple places at once! The Navajo sandpainting is so beautiful, and it’s so cool that he told you what the painting meant on the back.
The artists really were amazing ð
I enjoy being able to support authentic local makers when I’m travelling. So lovely to meet the two Navajo gentlemen behind these products. I love how Wayne adds the meaning on the back of his artwork too.
I love supporting the locals when I’m traveling! Makes the experience seem that much more authentic! ð
I never knew about the four corners monument in the US but gee I love to learn something new! Absolutely loving the look of those bracelets – very nice!! ð
Thanks Min! ð
I never knew about this place. The neighborhood where I taught in Texas was called Four Corners but I assumed that’s not where you were talking about. Love all the jewlery!
I had no idea that there’s a Four Corner’s in Texas. I wonder if it’s related some how!
Sometimes we just can’t help ourselves but delve into the tacky tourist sites.
Thanks for linking up #wednesdaywanderlust
That’s pretty cool to be honest, I would totally do the same thing and take a photo. The bracelets from Leroy and Erma look so pretty.
The sand paintings are so interesting – I definitely wouldn’t have left that stall empty handed, either! It makes such a difference when stallholders are friendly, and you can find a bit more of a connection to them and the things they’re selling. And, I’m all for any location that combines travelling and shopping. Yes please!
Love those sand paintings – they are absolutely beautiful.
Thank you so much for the feature! ð
Aha! So THAT’S what the Four Corners Monument looks like. I can’t blame you at all for posing there. Dan and I did the same at every Equator monument we found in Quito. ð
This was a fascinating story, Lauren. Even though I lived in New Mexico I never knew the significance of sand painting. Although I usually prefer photos to souvenirs, it’s so remarkable that I would make it a point to leave with one of Wayne’s beautiful creations. Someone with that much talent deserves my support.
Thanks for sharing your story on #TheWeekly Postcard. I’ve pinned it to my See The USA board.