Brown paper packages tied up with string...

I used to think I could sing. 

You know what I mean.  We can all sing.  That isn't the relevant issue.  Only a few of us sing well.  Or well enough that someone else might actually want to listen for a moment. 

When I was not-yet-a-teenager, I loved playing the soundtrack albums from The Sound of Music, My Fair Lady, Camelot and others, singing along loudly and proudly.  Especially the loudly part.  Until the day when my dreams of musical glory were crushed... my Mom suggested that I really should consider learning to play a musical instrument.  And here I thought Julie and I were in perfect harmony. 

Singing isn't the point here but when I started thinking about "my favorite things"... that got me thinking about the song... Julie Andrews... soundtracks... singing and so on.

Have you ever noticed that I'm a stream-of-consciousness kind of girl?

Of course you have...

But back to My Favorite Things... or some of them.  The recent ones. 

That's the subject du jour.

Random thoughts.

I do those well.

Perhaps too well sometimes...

While doing some Christmas shopping and getting ready for the holidays, I got to thinking about some of the things that have caught my fancy of late.  And I thought I would share...

'Tis the season... and that means I get to pull out this...

I bought my button in 1993.  With just two weeks left until Christmas, it's time to put it on my apron at work.  It's tradition!

While out and about earlier this week, I was in a local bookstore that always has cool, funky stuff that makes for great stocking stuffers... like stuff by these people ~ KnockKnock.

I wish I had the nerve to actually use this...

 
I didn't get one of these but I found several notepads by this company that will be in stockings or under the Christmas tree.  They just make me chuckle.

So does Laurie Simpson. 

Minick & Simpson.  Gorgeous fabrics... beautiful quilts... amazing hooked rugs ~ those girls. 

I love Laurie's sense of humor.  She's really funny.  Wickedly funny.  Slyly, quietly funny.  She and Polly write funny, sweet, lovely posts on their blog but Laurie does one thing that always makes me laugh. 

Have you ever noticed the tags she puts on posts?

In no particular order, here is a sampling of some of her recent tags...

• House-training and other fun stuff
• Techno-idiot
• Otto the Wonder Dog
• Geek Squad
• Chillin'
• Exhausted ~ after Market
• Shame and Degradation ~ when she wrote about her first quilt
• Pain and Suffering ~ about the Tigers
• Broken Heart ~ also about the Tigers
• Retirement Options
• Quilting Miracle
• Ridiculous Questions ~ e.g. "when did Laurie and Polly meet?"
• I Got Nothing
• No Ideas At All

Laurie's tags are like the cherry on top of a sundae.  Thank you, Laurie.  You Michigan-girls do cherries well.

And make sure you stop by and see the very cute new Simpson ~ Gibby! 

Speaking of sundaes... while in Spring Green for the retreat, several ladies walked over to Chocolate Shoppe Ice Cream for a mid-afternoon treat.  When someone read the "nutritional information" on the cup, I made sure to get a cup for a souvenir.  Here's what the cup says...

Nutritional Information:  Don't even ask.  This is the best ice cream made in Wisconsin, and it tastes so good because it has gobs of rich Wisconsin cream, tons of real ingredients for boat-loads of luscious flavors.  That means it's not low-fat, low-calorie or low-anything, and that's why everyone loves it.  You want nutrition, eat carrots.

Yippee Skippee?  Peanut butter ice cream, salted caramel ripple with chunks of brownies and chocolate covered pretzels?  My favorite?  Banana ice cream with peanut butter ripple and liquid chocolate chips... it's called "Fat Elvis".  I love these people! 

Etsy. 

I really love Etsy.  What's not to love?

If you've been hanging around for awhile, you already know that I love the pintoppers from Pinks and Needles aka Gigi Minor. 

 
Shhhh... this is going to be in somebody's Christmas present. 

Did you know that Gigi is starting a Pintopper of the Month Club next year?  I think this means I won't have to go looking for trouble, it will find me... several times a year. 

While clicking around late one evening, I found Sunshine & Ravioli.  

I had to have some of these...

And a package of these...

Now I just have to figure out whom I like well enough to include this on their package... hmmm.

Signs.  Cosmic signs.  Metaphorical signs.  Actual signs.  I love signs!

Next time you find yourself at a McDonald's drive thru, check to see if they still have the sign that reads "We have braille menus."  That always makes me laugh... though it does beg the question "if you need a braille menu, why are you in the drive-thru lane?"

This is another one of my all-time favorites...

 
Hehehe... I do love Texas.

I really do like signs, they're especially nice for decorating.  I am thinking about getting this one from Castle & Cottage Vintage Signs.  The signs are handpainted by Paula Small.  Aren't they beautiful?

With a little more than ten days until Christmas, it's still anybody's guess whether we're going to get the rest of the decorations up... and whether my "sewing room" will still be occupying other parts of the house.  The room is still "a work in progress".  The floor is taking a little longer than expected, we think that's because the part that's next to the window is reacting differently with the sunlight.  And can you believe I completely forgot about lighting?  Duh!

It isn't that I forgot... it's just that I realized I had a good opportunity to do something better.  I had lighting before but it can best be described as "adequate".  I deserve more than that!  My aging eyes need more than that!  So the electrician is coming next week before I start moving things back in. 

I'm really looking forward to that "long winter's nap" that Clement Moore wrote about.

Until later...

Comments

[Jocelyn]

We are also wondering if the decorations will ever be put up. We are all going in different directions. But at least it's started. Maybe we will have them all up by New Year's ;-)

[L. M. R.]

I sure do enjoy your charming posts, Carrie. Good luck with your sewing room and Merry Christmas!

[Pat]

I just came down from my studio and saw that you posted..Let me tell you what I have been doing! MAKING FABRIC CANDY CANES! My hands are crippled from stuffing, my nail polish is coated with STIFFY..There are candy canes hanging on coat hangers all over the guest bathroom shower rod. They are adorable but dang girl, I haven't stuffed so much since I stuffed a 22 pound turkey. Those canes better be stiffy in a jiffy or I'm sunkie!

Tomorrow is gitter day. OOOHH can't wait. They really are cute I made 24 Large ones and 24 of the size on your blog...The large ones are going up the banister with my garland and the small ones are going to be at the place settings of each of my sewing friends next Sunday brunch...if I can get the stiffy out of my nails and glitter out of my hair...I'm over it. teehee.

Pat
and if anyone wants to take their cane home I'll beat them over the head with it.

[Laurie]

Showtunes! When Polly and I get a chance to work together we put on old musicals on the tv. Which reminds me of GLEE - are you a fan?? Love it! And no, I can't carry a tune in a bag.

You don't want to know how long it took me to figure out the "L" pin. Nice.

Gee..... thanks for the shout out.
(blushes uncontrollably)

Laurie

[Vickie E]

I completely agree with you about Laurie, I wondered if anyone else read her tags!
I joined Gigi's group too! and I am making a special project for January...atleast that's the plan!

[Betty]

You have such fun and charming posts- please post more often. It makes lots of us smile.

[Joyce]

It took me awhile with the "No-L" pin. It was like a puzzle my two daughters and I were trying to solve until one of them said, "No-L" and the light bulb finally went on! thanks for the laugh tonight! And I agree, Laurie writes a great blog.

[lissa]

I am follically challenged so it took me a wee while to work out No L either.. doh! sometimes my brain hurts when I thinky too hard.. have I got all my decorations out? um nope... do I plan on getting them done anytime soon? um nope.. Dags (aka dh) is refusing to get them down, and with a recently dislocated knee cap, I can barely walk, let alone climb ladders and swing from chandeleirs (OK I have never done that but it sounds impressive none the less)

take care and merry christmas to ya!

Lissa
in HOT HOT HOT HOT HOT Australia
I have the a/c blasting and we are watching downloaded to TIVO movies trying to stay cool...

[Carol]

What a happy post today...I laughed so hard when you said your mom suggested a musical instrument...mine did the same thing. I should be crushed...I'm not...LOL! I still sing in the car...people always look at me a little strangely...Hmmm...Thanks for the chuckles this morning.

[Barbara]

Carrie,
Merry Christmas to you! I agree with the other posters, your posts always make me smile. I think you have a wonderful sense of humor and your way of looking at life is great. I can't wait to for the chance to sew again after the holidays, too much to do right now in preparing for Christmas. Thanks for the uplift today.

[Live a Colorful Life]

Thanks for always making me laugh.

[Live a Colorful Life]

P.S. My favorite tag is "magical overflowing never depleted scrap bin." Boy, can I relate!

[Edie Gottschall]

OMG, Carrie, you have made my day. Guffawed until I actually snorted (like a pig, not like an addict!). Comments are a must read, too. Hugs to you Girlfriend! Edie

[sherri]

Wow...there is so much fun in this post...thanks once again...now I'm off to check out the pin topper of the month club!

[Pat]

YES, that is by far the best ice cream place. I stopped twice and I was only in town for 5 days!!

Like I say.........Ice cream, chocolate and wine can get you through anything!!

[lovetostitch]

Another day you have managed to perk me up - someone in this house is not being nice, and it is NOT Sunny Boy!! Singing?.... oh how I love this subject - my daughter was out sunbathing one day (many yrs ago) and had the ear phones on, singing at the top of her lungs - uh, nothing was in tune, and surely I would have recognized Julie Andrews.......not even a clue!! However, for an installation comic relief, I did write a song to that tune: A Few of my Favorite Things, and will share with you some time. PTOM?? (pin topper of the month?? LOL, what cute little things and having a hard time giving these away, but hurried and wrapped them up (I did keep some for me). And, I have to agree on the the Minick gals - love their posts too!!
Enjoy it all- including the mess, it will get done in time - hugs!!!

[Kim]

The "braille menu" reminded me--when my brother-in-law began dating my former sister-in-law, she'd just moved to California and asked about the "bumps" dividing the lanes in the road. He told her they were there so blind people could drive. She actually believed him for awhile--I think that's when he decided it was love!

[Jacqueline]

Such a charming post! It's my first time visiting and i really love your space here. :) So glad i came knocking on your door. Have a lovely merry happy weekend and love to you!

PMTC: Jacqueline

[Sasha]

Merry Christmas Carrie! I've been "lurking" here for a while and thought I'd say hello! Miss Rosie patterns are my new obsession and I've been hoarding them and fat quarter bundles to do them with so next year will be a marathon Miss Rosie/Schnibble year for me! Thank you for your wonderful designs- you've made my day/week/month/year/decade etc!!! Merry Christmas!

[Debra in Ohio]

Merry Christmas!

[coach handbags]

How many people actually have 8 true friends?Hardly anyone I know.But some of us have all right friends and good friends.