No time like the present...

Wow, Labor Day hit and the temperature dropped. I guess we can blame good old Gustav for that one. Or is it the fact that I live in Chicago? I can't refresh my memory enough to last year to remember how quickly summer ended but at this moment... it's too soon.

One thing I did remember from last year was my winter panic mode. I began buying and planning about this time for my bundle-up package. I think I may have actually had my coat by late August!

Well, knowing how quickly things can hit, I must admit...I'm a sucker again this year. Last years snow boots (made by Totes I must add) had a blow out after a very successful and harsh winter. At least the locals tell me it was rough. I just thought that was how it was supposed to be so I wasn't really all that shocked.

So, I bucked up and bought my snow boots this week. I am the consummate sale shopper (except in the case of the bad ass shoes posted a few weeks ago) and know there are plenty of good deals out there. I got a GREAT pair of Sorel snow boots, brand new, for $40. I must say, I'm super jazzed... and my feet will be super dry. Now I'm just waiting for my local Walgreens to put out the bins of winter gear so that just like last year I can stumble in to get an RX filled and come out with a great pair of Thinsulate gloves for $8.99. Those too railed right through the winter up until the bitter end when the webs between the fingers also started to have a blow out.

I'll even be nice again and share a great web site: www.sierratradingpost.com This is where I got the AMAZING deal on my boots and if I remember correctly, where I got the AMAZING deal on my North Face jacket last year. It's all overstocks and discontinued styles that go from 30-50% off MSRP. My boots were 50% off.

...and once again, the knitting needles are starting to fly... but for me only. I'll be damned if I'm making ONE Christmas gift this year!

The Parent Trap

Well finally my parents made it to Chicago! After almost one year of not seeing them, here they are. We have had a really great time thus far. Not too much family dysfunction and we've seen a few great bits of the city. Friday we hit Millennium Park and the Art Institute. Saturday was Wicker Park, and I feel that today may be close to home, possibly with a quiet trip to Half Price Books.

I tend to forget sometimes that these two are pushing 70. They've never looked their age and they still don't now. They just move a little slower than I do and than I remember.

We're all here a very short time so enjoy who you have while you have them!

The never-ending socks

After taking waaaaay waaaay too long to finish these socks, they are COMPLETE! I almost hit a record as I bought this yarn last September at the Renegade Craft Fair and it's coming up again in about 3 weeks.

I have to say, they were pretty enjoyable and mellow to work on. Totally in stockinette stitch on number 3 needles. The yarn is hand dyed by a girl who lives in the north east (Mass. I think?). For those of you who are knitters, check out the web site, Traveling Rhinos .

I am working on a super cute kitchy thing as we speak which shouldn't take too much longer. I'll keep that one under wraps until completion!

Okay, on the topic of yarn... I went to a yarn swap at my SNB group a few weeks ago & came home with much more yarn than I went with. Kind of defeats the purpose of going right? Now I have "3 bags full" of yarn"! Sigh... my fingers will only move so fast.

THEN, Loopy Yarns had a moving sale and I made myself go and ended up spending about 50 bones on guess what... more yarn!
My name is Kristen and I am a yarn addict... I guess it's better than blow right?

MIA

FINALLY! So sorry I've been gone a few weeks from blogging. I've been busy and I was out of town for a week. On that note... check out the girl on the high seas... (Fabulous dress purchased from ModeMerr.com)

I'm back in full swing getting ready for my parents to come visit. They will be here for 4 days next weekend. Once again I say... FINALLY! This is their inaugural visit to Chicago, therefore I'm doing my best to plan out some fun and keep them away from the ghetto! Actually, the diversity of Chicago and my neighborhood is going to be quite the shock I think. Lets see, do I take them on the gangster tour? the murder tour? the prohibition and sex tour? (These are all real tours you know!)

Actually I think the biggest obstacle will be accommodating their luggage. They tend to travel like they are going on the Titanic... steamer trunks and all.

Retail Therapy

Okay it's really been years since I have spent money on clothes the way I have the past 6 months. I am very much a sale, discount, thrift, and vintage shopper. Most everything I've purchased lately has fallen into one of the above mentioned categories.

But then there's those items that you see that you are completely sucked in by and nothing or no one will convince you that you shouldn't have this item, full price or not.

Today was that day.

The purse was just the salespersons convincing "add-on" sale that sucked me in...

It's all about the shoes baby!!!

Can't beat the meat

I have this great little grocery store a few blocks from my house. With gas and groceries increasing in price by the minute, I find myself shopping there as much as I can for produce and meats. The produce is BEAUTIFUL and insanely cheap. Please tell me how I can pay such little money for the following at one store, when it would be at least triple at my big box store.

Head of Romaine lettuce .69
Pint of ORGANIC Driskell Strawberries .99 (and they are FRESH)
1/2 pint of Blackberries 2/1.00
1 Box of vanilla ice cream 2/3.00
Total w/tax $3.76

I went there on my way off of the train two days ago and spent .59 lb. on tomatoes on the vine, and $1.86 on a butterflied pork chop. Mind you the chop isn't 4 inches thick like a hungry man portion, it's about 1/2 inch thick like a portion size should be. I'm just amazed at the difference. Next thing you know I'll be carrying canvas grocery bags... oh wait, it's already started.

New Digs

I've been shopping for clothes quite a bit lately. Vintage clothes that is. I've become one with the dress as well. I haven't worn dresses in years but recently I've taken a new love to them. There is a sneaking suspicion that I might start blogging about vintage clothes so be on the lookout for new content and sites to check out. But keep in mind I won't give out all of my secret shopping hideouts! Here are a few I picked up last night at a shop that was having an artists closing reception. All clothes were 50% off!!!

"Alice" (or Flo but please...not Vera)

"Would you like fries to go with that shake?". I tried it on & got a few opinions from my friends & staff. My favorite comment was from my friend Mary, "wow, that looks strangely flattering on you!". SOLD!

"The Drape Dress"

The fabric on this dress is AMAZING! Hence the close up pic. I'm super jazzed about this dress because I'm anticipating it being able to be used all year long... I've got visions of tall boots in my head!!!

"Land Ho"... hey, who you callin' ho?

Okay this is a dosey.... I am going to a beach/boat event at the end of July and wow... I couldn't have found a more perfect, tackier , vintage garment that I know will get a reaction. If only the Professor and Mary Ann could see me now, they might recruit me to make a cocktail out of bamboo and coconut shells!

They still creep me out...

LOS ANGELES, California (AP) -- Larry Harmon, who turned the character Bozo the Clown into a show business staple that delighted children for more than a half-century, died Thursday of congestive heart failure. He was 83.

You can read the rest of the story about Bozo, the worlds creepiest clown here.

RIP... may all children no longer wake up screaming in fear of the big, scary clowns.

Day at the beach!

I went to the beach yesterday....

Some people make sand castles, but others....

I have to brag!

Okay I MUST brag about this site and customer service...
I purchased a dress from www.modemerr.com.
They sell all kinds of groovy rockabilly, good girl, and bad girl wear. Everything is handmade in the good ol' USA.
I ordered my dress and swapped a few emails with Angela (brains behind the whole operations) in regards to sizing and timing. Once I ordered the dress, she CALLED me because she had been out with the flu and wanted to check on the date of my event in case she needed to express ship my item!!!
Today I received my dress and it was in the cutest, simplest packaging but wrapped in tissue and a bow, all with a hand written thank you card!
... I'm all warm & fuzzy and I haven't even tried the dress on yet!
Just when you thought customer service was dead in this world.... Check them out!