Spooky Basket: A Thanksgiving & Black Friday Tale

Twas the day of Thanksgiving, and all through the town, not a creature was stirring-- too afraid to go out.

Indeed, the town was blanketed by a fog so thick and a chill most bitter, one could almost believe they were in the set of Silent Hill...

Mind you, this was around 9am-- it puts perspective on the amount of fog denying much, if any, sunlight to pass through...
But the in-laws were counting on us to make it to Phoenix for our Thanksgiving /early Christmas day.

Ironically, the fog ended right at the town limits-- it cleared once we cleared the town! It was also really warm and beautiful from there on out... coincidence? I think not. This town should be renamed 'Hellbrook'.

Anyway, I digress.

Thanksgiving was spent with joy and wine a'flowing.
First thing I was thankful for was being able to see my in laws and get out of Hellbrook for a while. One such instance where my husband and I actually got to spend some time with his father-- which is super rare considering some not so pleasant circumstances in our lives.
Secondly, I was very thankful I was recovered enough to enjoy the entire weekend with nary a hitch or a pill!
I'm quite thankful for the health and love of all my family and friends.

After a hearty and bountiful dinner (which I was actually able to enjoy and digest, surprisingly) we sat around the living room and handed each other presents...
You're probably asking yourselves "early Christmas day? Why?!"
These were also my exact thoughts... but since the in-laws are spending their Christmas and New Years in distant and exotic places, they deemed it necessary to celebrate a little early.

All of the gifts which I have presented were handmade (which I promise I'll make a post about). I had far more fun making these gifts than I ever do browsing catalogs and web pages for presents... I am going to make this a habit, which I hope won't fizzle out for the rest of the family.

I received many sewing notions and sewing related trinkets along with a rather large gift card to my favored shopping temple Joann's.

I was faced with the biggest decision of my life... to shop on Black Friday and attempt to make the most of this gift card... or not to?
The decision practically made itself...

And so, I strapped in for my first ever Black Friday shopping day.

And... y'know what? Aside from one pushy lil' old lady I encountered at the cutting tables, Black Friday at Joann's was super civilized, albeit it busier than I've ever seen a Joann's.

Mixed in with the items already given to me.

I spent really close to the amount of my gift card (spending a mere $6 from my own pocket), and managed to save a whopping $110.31 just from the visit alone ...
My jaw literally dropped. I've never saved that much when going into Joann's, haha; I had 3 50% off reg priced item coupons  that were applied to the ham holder (normally $30), tailor's ham and seam roll (both normally about $12). To top it all off, I had a 25% off entire purchase including sale items coupon, that lasted only 4 hours during Black Friday sale.

There are some items missing in the bunch, as they have yet to arrive; I purchased them online from Joann's online only sale during Black Friday and Cyber Monday.
I don't quite feel so guilty shopping on the "dreaded day" because of how utilitarian the items I purchased are; can you really blame a budget seamstress for desiring to refurbish her sewing equipment on the cheap?

With all of what I purchased, and how much I saved... it's easy to see why people get themselves in a frenzy over Black Friday... but I am proud of my crafty gals and guys; you've made my first Black Friday an enjoyable and courteous one! Go crafty people!

Item List (** stocking stuffer, *online purchase):

• Tailor's ham
• Seam Roll
• Ham Holder
• 26 spool Gutterman thread box  
• Large vary form curve ruler (aka styling design ruler)
• Pin wand
• Embroidery Scissors
• Pink tomato pin cushion**
• 4 Kanzashi flower makers: 2 kinds of flower, two sizes each
• Desktop wood thread holder**
• 3 sets of double point knitting needles: US size 8, 6, and 1
• Purple bobbin box**
• Black and white set of universal bobbins /w thread**
• Dressmaker pins**
• Pearlized pins**
• 1 yard of pleated chiffon
• 1 yard of ribbon decorated velveteen
• 1/2 yard of purple lace
• Rowenta Effective comfort iron*
• Ironing board cover, caddy, tailor's ham, seam roll pattern*
• Flex ruler*
• Grid ruler*

It's a shame that such a day usually has a tendency to bring out the worst in people, because it's obviously a great time to be able to save a lot of money on items you usually go through or need to replace. It was quite refreshing to realize that not all places go topsy turvy! Heh.

I hope you all enjoyed your weekend, 

whether it was spent traveling, shopping or at home!

Monthly Homework assignment: Things I can't live without

A meme started by The Dancing Maenad in which we list inanimate things we simply cannot live without.

This is quite difficult for me to keep short since my sanity requires a lot, sadly... I wouldn't call myself A.D.H.D. but it's been suggested by some doctors I've consulted that I try medication to soothe my easily frazzled nerves. I am very reluctant in taking mood changing medications-- and so my quest for peace of mind leads me to the things I cannot live without...

1. Music

My mp3 has seen better days.

 Music is as important to the mind as water is to our bodies. So naturally, nearly everyone who makes up their list has it on there. Music helps me in my most horrid of anxiety lapses, and I constantly need it if I am venturing out anywhere without someone or meeting new people (I hum music if I couldn't pop in my mp3 in a situation).
It has certainly been a fundamental part of feeling normal for me, and is number one on my list.

Busy minds stay out of trouble

2. My crafting supply

Another way I keep anxiety at bay is if I simply preoccupy my mind away from the troubling source. I carry at least one of many small, easily packable objects and projects. In the picture I've included: a pair of knitting needles & ball of yarn, a crochet hook, an embroidery loop, a pair pliers, french knitter tube, tatting shuttle, sewing needle, my notebook and sketch book. (not shown: my gaming handhelds, travel sewing machine, travel sewing kit and beads for beading). But really I cannot imagine being without my craft room in its entirety.

3. Moisturizers

 I am consistently battling with this portion of my personality; always on the edge of panic.  I cannot function peacefully if I am not properly moisturized, body, hands, lip and eyes. Add to the fact that it must smell nice to me, or I will still be slightly antsy.

And finally...

4. My make-up bag and all its contents

This is the last item because in all honesty I can live without it, but it's still important enough that it's one of the top things I must pack.

So there you have it.
The things I cannot live without.