Today I turn 43.
Happy Birthday to me!
I started celebrating a little early…as in yesterday.
I’d carefully planned out my week, working many, many hours so that I could enjoy the rest of my week.
Every year, about this time, I make an hour and a half trek to a yarn store that has been one of my favorites over the years. The night before, I texted my friend, Maegan, to see if she wanted to join me. She did, and I picked her up around 11.
Maegan and I work together, but we don’t get to talk for long periods of time because we are too busy teaching our students. She won our school’s Teacher of the Year…a testament to how fabulous she is. The kids and staff adore her. Spending quality time away from school and the stresses of life was something I knew I’d treasure.
Off we went!
She took a couple of pictures as we crossed the bridge. As you can see, the weather was PERFECT!
Our first stop was the yarn store…actually the FIRST of the day (we saw the other one I used to visit on the way and made plans to stop on our way back).
Maegan was probably the most patient non-knitting person I’ve ever gone yarn shopping with. She was mesmerized by the samples that had been worked up. She pet the various skeins of yarn and listened patiently as I explained things like marrying the right yarns and patterns together.
What a friend!
I took full advantage of the 20% birthday coupon that I had received in the mail and left with these in my bag…
Malabrigo Lace in Indigo
A girl can never have too much Malabrigo! I see this becoming a shawl…one day.
This is a sock yarn I’ve never heard of. When I touched it, I could not stop. It begged to come home with me. I hate to let a yarn’s cries go untended.
😀
The yarn store is in the cutest little tourist area, fraught with adorable shops.
We visited a cupcake bakery that was uber-homey inside…
Alas…I inquired about vegan cupcakes, and the gal responded in the negative. Oh well. I guess I saved myself a few calories.
We also stepped into a pet supply store that has unique home-baked furry baby treats. I didn’t take any photos. I didn’t buy a thing either! Go me!
Another shop that caught Maegan’s attention was a vintage clothing store.
The place had a funky smell, but we still had a good time holding up “interesting” items.
I found myself a dress to wear on Monday nights when I watch Dancing With the Stars…
No, I didn’t really buy it, but the thought did cross my mind!
Next up was a trip to Goodwill.
Yes, that’s right.
Goodwill.
Maegan had almost had heart failure when she’d seen one on the way to the yarn store. At first, I was a little worried…until she told me that she LOVES to shop at Goodwill and had not been to the one we’d just passed. I had promised that we’d go back, so we did.
Confession time.
Although I’ve donated things to Goodwill, I’ve never actually shopped there.
Oh word, but Maegan was in her element, and she quickly brought me up to speed on the ins and outs of shopping there.
We found a beautiful white prom dress and considered buying it just in case one of our students couldn’t afford the cost. In the end, we decided not to because the dress was a little too sheer, and we didn’t think any of our girls would actually wear it.
After shopping awhile, we left without buying anything.
It was time to find the other yarn store, where I purchased the following yarn…
This is a cotton blend, and there was a sample of the Chincoteague Shawl knit up with a different colorway. It’s a beautiful shawl, and the yarn stripes out beautifully as well. I can’t wait to cast on!
After spending nearly an hour in the shop, we headed in the direction of home…or should I say in the direction of a second Goodwill store…one in which the owner of the second yarn store had assured us was a much better Goodwill to shop at.
Oh word.
Was.
It.
Ever.
It certainly didn’t take me long to catch on to Goodwill shopping!
As we shopped, I couldn’t believe that we actually needed a buggy!
Maegan taught me how to look at the shoes and determine if they’d been worn much.
We had fun trying on shoes. She actually had to help me figure out how to strap on one pair…
Yes, I am THAT girl…still so awkward at times.
The shoes were a great fit and oh so pretty!
I found another cute pair as well. Both pairs will look great under jeans or dress pants.
Another thing I discovered at Goodwill…
The kids love the Maximum Ride series by James Patterson, and my friend, Barb, said that Rules of Attraction is one of the most sought-after books at school. I bought the Nicholas Sparks book just because it was the first book that made me cry when I read it years ago.
I’ll admit that the “savings” added up, and I wound up spending a bit more than I’d anticipated. Oh well. Sometimes you just can’t put a price on the value of reading!
Next on our to-do list was a stop at Ulta. We both had coupons we’d received in the mail, and we were eager to spend save a buck! I wound up buying four bottles of Ulta Shampoo/Conditioner, which actually works great on my hair and was on sale for buy one, get one half off.
By the time I arrived home, I was happy and a little tired. It took a second trip to the car to bring in everything…
What a wonderful way to kick off my birthday weekend. Spending time with Maegan rejuvenated me. We bounced teaching ideas off of one another, gave each other validation, and grew closer as friends.
I adore this young woman and am so blessed that I could share my birthday-eve with her.
Please say a prayer for my Chicklets. They are on their way home, spending my birthday weekend/Easter with us and bringing with them a few friends.
The house will be filled with lots of laughter and fun, and I cannot wait.
Could you also say a prayer for Aubie. She’s had a bad couple of days. We’re very nervous. Her health condition is the one sad spot right now.
Thanks all!
Filed under: Knitting, This-n-That | Tagged: Gypsy Girl Creations, James Patterson, Knitting, malabrigo, Maximum Ride, shopping | 3 Comments »
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