Felt Like Knitting

Ten on Tuesday: 10 Favorite Places for Online Shopping

I'm going to learn a lot from reading other ToT entries.  While I have shopped at several places, I tend to buy most things from my number 1 entry...

1. Amazon - You can get almost anything from Amazon and I love their free shipping deals.  In fact, I did a little ordering from Amazon yesterday morning.

2.  Eddie Bauer - I really like Eddie Bauer's clothing and I have a feel for how they will fit me so I can order without worrying.

3.  Zappos - Speaking of not worrying about ordering, Zappos is worry free!  Free shipping and free returns takes away the concern that something won't fit.  Plus they have a great selection!

4.  KnitPicks - I'm not sure that I've ever ordered yarn from KnitPicks, but I bought my scale, blocking wires, dyes, etc. from them.

5.  Sheet Music Direct - If I need special music for my guitar or for the band at church, I usually turn to this company.  There is a sheet music viewer that allows you to listen and follow along, transpose the music to another key, etc...very helpful!

6.  Bath & Body Works - I've never ordered from them but I do use this site to check on sales at their brick and mortar stores.  I love those candles they sell!

7.  Etsy - Again, I rarely order from them but I do indulge in some window shopping.  There are such creative folks selling items online there.

8.  eBay and Half.com - How could I forget about eBay?  It's one of the first places I check when I want to check the price on something or look for something unusual.  And their book store can be a good place to get used books at a great price.

9.  Estee Lauder - It's so much more convenient to order my makeup than to go to the mall to get it.  Plus I get free samples and I always wait for a free shipping deal before I order.

10.  Knitting designers and yarn dyers - Never Not Knitting, Through the Loops, Knitspot, The Woolen Rabbit, Ysolda, Picnic Knits, ...the list goes on and on.

Where do you shop online?  To read where other people shop or to add your own list, check Carole's blog.

Thankfulness wrap-up

I love the falling leaves in this photo.

I am behind in my 30 days of thankfulness.  And it turns out that I need to get a few things off of my plate.  How do I know this?

-  Yesterday I decided to bake the apple pie for Thanksgiving.  I realized after I had sliced the apples that I never peeled them!  So I turned the apple slices into apple crisp for the family before I realized I only had steel cut oats in the cabinet.  Eating this is like eating apple crisp with Grape-Nuts.

-  I forgot to pay the Discover bill because I didn't see the reminder in my inbox.  I've been using the new priority mail system and forgot to check the "non priority" section where the reminder went.  :(

So I've decided to focus my efforts on getting the house and food ready for our Thanksgiving dinner, getting a handle on paperwork, etc. This is the last thankfulness post...

But I remain very thankful for everything in my life.  And today I am thankful for each of you.  It's so great to be a part of this online community!

 

The Candy Cane Joe-Joe's are in!

Day 21:  I am thankful for the Candy Cane Joe-Joe's at Trader Joe's.  I was so thankful this evening that I bought three boxes.  The cookies are only in stores at this time of the year so I need to stock up then ration them out.  At least that's what I'll try again.  :)

So this is a silly one.  But on a serious note, I am thankful for the food I have every day and for not having to worry about where my next meal will come from.

Harry Potter

Tonight Steve and I went to see Harry Potter then we had some dinner.  I enjoyed the movie and enjoyed being out with my husband on a date.  And I even got to do some knitting before the movie!

Day 20:  I am thankful for my husband and for the opportunity to spend some time with him.

 

A different kind of FO

I still didn't finish up my mom's slippers so no finished knitting project.   But I have something different to show you.  Tonight my friend Reesa and I made lip balm and hard lotion.

We found the recipe at MadeOn Hard Lotion Bars and bought our ingredients (beeswax, shea butter, coconut oil) from Oils by Nature.  The process was fun and easy and I love how my hands feel right now!  I'm not sure where Reesa bought the great lip balm containers.  If you want to make your own, I'll find out for you.  We also experimented with putting the lotion/balm in tins.  

Day 19:  I am thankful to have friends with similar interests and for the free time to try new things.

Knitting time!

Day 18:  I am thankful for knitting time with Mary*.

I got to knit today!!!  And, boy, did that feel good.  I worked on slippers for my mom (pictures later).  Mary was working on Peasy.  My mom chatted with us and read a book.  What a nice afternoon.  I just wish Vanessa could have stayed, but she has a previous commitment following our Bible study time.

Speaking of the Bible study, that leads me to yesterday's thankful thing...

Day 17:  I am thankful for hope.  Even when I'm discouraged, tired, and sad, I have hope and look forward to heaven - where there is no discouragement, no sadness, no pain.

*  Okay, one last thing...  Thanks goes to Mary for allowing me to take her picture for my blog.  I told her I couldn't go one more day without a photo on my blog.  She felt like blog fodder!

Thrift store wardrobe enhancement

Day 16:  I am thankful for the fun day I had with my mom.

We took the costumes back to the rehearsal space then went to a couple of thrift stores.  It's fun to find some great bargains!  Today I bought a Levi's corduroy jacket, a white jacket (cut like a jean jacket), a denim skirt, two shirts, and three pairs of shorts for Steve.  It only cost me $20 and everything is in good shape.

The only thing I don't like about finding things at a thrift store is that I feel like everything has "cooties."  When a friend told me that NYC has a big problem with bed bugs, it made me even more concerned.  Plus, I'm cautious because of the moth infestation I had.  So now I leave everything in plastic bags in the basement until I can run them up to the washing machine.

Do you like shopping at thrift stores?  What has been your best find?

Free time

Day 15:  I am so thankful to have some free time!  It's been hard getting things done today.  It's rainy and it's nice to not have a long list of things that should have been done yesterday.  I didn't get up until 10 this morning!

As promised, here are a few photos...  I didn't get many taken because it's always so rushed backstage.  But these are the major things I sewed. 

 

Long John Silver's coat and hat:  Someone else on the costume team sewed the buttons on for me.  That was nice!

 

Sky blue jacket that "had seen better days":  I made this jacket then we distressed it.  Missing buttons, charcoal dust, dirt, etc.  This jacket was made to fit two different people - a tall, thin young man and a shorter young lady.  The cuffs were altered to flip up for her and down for him.

Captain Smollett's uniform:  We got a shirt from the thrift store and had a scarf for his neck.  The rest of the outfit was made from thin microsuede fabric.  I'm pleased with how it turned out.  It's a bit big on this actor and even bigger on the other.  But I made it large to be sure it fit.  

Everyone on the costume team (plus the organization's president) worked so hard to help Rhonda (the other costumer) and me get everything ready.  They are a great group of ladies and I am thankful for them, too!

Treasure Island is done!

Day 14:  I am thankful for the wonderful experience I had with all the kids of Treasure Island.  It was such a treat to work with them.  But I am also thankful that the show is done.  Photos tomorrow!

Trump

Day 13:  I am thankful for my dog, Trump. 

Okay, so he's really our dog but I seem to be his favorite.  :)  Trump is always there when I walk into the room.  In fact, when I've been gone a while, he meets me at the door and makes this pitiful whining sound when he sees that it's me.  Right now he's sitting on my lap.  It's nice to know that whenever I come home, my faithful friend wants to spend time with me.