I found my store soul sister. That is, if I owned a store I would want it to be just like hers. Who is she? Aunt Hattie (a.k.a. Donna) of Aunt Hattie's Fanciful Emporium. She's got the most awesome taste. How do I know? Because it's just like mine. We're talking primo gold standard. My folks and I chanced upon her store as we were strolling down the main street of LeClaire, Iowa. 

You know how Tom Cruise had Renee Zellwegger at "hello"? Well Aunt Hattie had me at "TARDIS." Look who greeted me as soon as I entered her store:

Don't judge me. I've already admitted I'm a geek, and Aunt Hattie has other things we can all appreciate. I mean, what person doesn't want bandaids that look like bacon strips or straws that make you look like you have a mustache? (Please notice how the Stache Straw looks like its about to go up the person's nose instead of their mouth. Hmm...)

And who hasn't had a conversation with a person hat just wouldn't stop talking? Aunt Hattie has a cure for that.

She's got more cool stuff too, like emergency underpants in a teeny weeny tin and hilarious magnets. I even spotted a James T. Kirk cookie jar. How's that for pure awesomeness?

Yes, there are other, not so silly but cool things like glam necklaces and a kickin' display of Marilyn Monroe merch. But I'll stop now. I'm not getting paid to promote her store and gushing too much might make me look like a stalker.

So what about you? Got a favorite so-silly-it's-awesome item that's close to your heart? I'd love to hear about it. In life, it's the little things that keep us smiling. :)

I’m worried that I’m a geek, and it has nothing to do with the hoodie I bought that says ‘geek.’ That’s a coincidence. I just wanted a souvenir from the Microsoft gift shop and I thought that it was cute.

The reason I’m worried is because of last weekend. We FINALLY went to see Batman: The Dark Knight Rises. I was thrilled. I love all things superhero. I even wanted to marry Batman when I was young. (Sadly, I gave that dream up in my thirties.)

Anyway, when we decided to go I had on my glow-in-the-dark Batman hoodie. I had to change out of it. I mean, wearing Batman clothes to a Batman movie is geeky, right? So I swapped it out for the ‘geek’ hoodie I mentioned earlier. (It matched my toenail polish.) Still, I wondered, what 45 year-old woman has a glow-in-the-dark Batman hoodie, or even one that says ‘geek’?

It doesn’t end there. As I sit in my dining room, my gaze drifts toward the right. There in the corner, on top of my gorgeous French provincial chest, stands a Lord of the Rings Lego scene. No, it’s not mine. I just thought it was cute so I put it there. Geeky, right? As for my prized possession from my Seattle trip? A Dr. Who coffee mug. But that’s different. It's really not geeky at all. In fact, it’s kind of cool. When you pour hot liquid into it the TARDIS moves. Here, take a look:

All right. I know what you’re thinking. You had me pegged as soon as I said ‘Microsoft gift shop.’ But that’s not my fault. I have an honest explanation. That’s where my brother works. He’s got a really great job doing ultra cool things. We had to check it out.

One of the things he works on is their Home of the Future. It’s packed with cutting edge technology for the home. Which is AWESOME. Though it’s not open to the public, my family got to take a tour. For even non-geeks, that pretty neat. They’ve got stuff there so secret, they won’t even let you take pictures. Well, actually….

Since my brother’s on the team, I got to take a TON of photos. Would you like to see some? Then click here. Just remember, Microsoft doesn’t know about these. Say nothing, so my brother doesn’t get in trouble.  

Anyway, I’m coming to grips with my geeky side. It’s part of me. If I’ve learned anything, it’s that you’ve got to embrace yourself. Make sure you do, too.