Category:

We had a bloody good time

5/9/2014

A little while back I took my youngest to the Putnam Museum in Davenport, Iowa to see the new science center. We had a blast doing a lot of silly cool things like taking silly pictures of ourselves using their thermal imaging camera. Man, I should have been a model...

This photo has been strategically cropped so you can't see my Jabba the Hutt quadruple chin.

But this post isn't about our shenanigans. It's about the visiting exhibit at the Putnam right now. Called CSI: The Experience, it let's you solve three different crimes while learning about various CSI techniques. Think that sounds cool? It because it is. But I have to admit one of my favorite parts is the gift area at the end. It has a bunch of bloodylicious merchandise. In fact, it's so cool I'm going to share some of it with you now.

Did you know most murders involving butcher knives occur in bathrooms? You probably didn't because that fact is a lie -- at least I think it is. Maybe it's true but in this case I just made it up because I couldn't think of a proper segue. Perhaps I should have just said, "Here's some cool bloody bath merchandise," then start by showing you this:

How's this for a "hand" towel?

They had bloody shower curtains and bath mats, too...

Just gives you that welcoming, "come inside and refresh yourself" vibe. Doesn't it?

And what better way to bathe than with bloody shower gel for that fresh-as-a-daisy feeling.

Of course, it wasn't all about the bathroom. Take this adorable lunch box.

Plus this sticky note pad I just had to get.

I also bought some crime scene-inspired barricade tape to inspire me. You see, I've got a couple of projects that just can't seem to get done. Like that alcove I filled with stuff to take to Goodwill three months ago? Still there. EPIC FAIL.

And, yes, you guessed it. Though we've fixed it, that picture is still not on the wall. It's been what, two years now? Another EPIC FAIL.

Wow. Maybe I shouldn't have ended with that. Now I'm feeling kind of depressed. Okay, that's another lie. I'm pretty comfortable with my ineptitude/lazinesss. I just wrote that as another segue to end this post. Thought I needed one. Maybe I don't.

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my new favorite store

12/8/2012

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blurry photo due to tears of joy in my eyes

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:

Even her mannequins are groovy.

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.

The yellow writing is mine. Just trying my best to keep things PG. And failing at it.

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. :)

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Before I go, I have a kitschy kitschy kool alert! This one is courtesy of my friend, Karen: Canned Unicorn Meat -- The reviews on Amazon are hysterical! Click here to check it out.

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I'm a geek

8/16/2012

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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’?

No. I am NOT kidding.

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:

The TARDIS, just hangin' in the street...

...while space remains a dark, empty abyss.

Then what devilry is this? The TARDIS is disappearing!

It's back in space heading for another adventure!

Seriously, how freaky is that?!

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.

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I went to Seattle and all I got was this stupid t-shirt

8/1/2012

23 Comments

I just got home from a two week vacation and I just can't wait to sleep with my husband. Get your mind out of the gutter. What I mean is I've been sleeping with a twitchy kid in my bed for fourteen days straight.

When we stay at a hotel, the kids hate sharing beds with each other. They say, "It's gross." They also seem to 'accidentally' elbow each other in the jaw, so we don't mind separating them.
Still, what that usally means for me are nights filled with errant kicks and blanket tug-of-wars. It has turned me into one tired pup, which is why there won't be much writing in this post.

Instead, I've decided to share some of the unecessary junk we crammed into our suitcases. No trip is complete without a nail-biting scene at the airline counter where you worry whether or not your suitcase is too heavy.

So here I go. Below is a list of the ridiculous stuff we bought. May it shock and awe you.

To start, here's a cute button I just had to have...

One of my sons found a cute button , too. Unfortunately, we had to take it away from him because he poked his brother with the pin in the back. And, no, the irony is not lost on me.

A cute wristlet I found...

You can take the girl out of Iowa, but you can't take Iowa out of the girl.

My absolute favorite find: Action Figure Jesus!

I have to say, he has already come in handy. Just look what he did as soon as we got home!

Though we could have just eaten these instead...

That's right -- "All Natural!"

We got a few t-shirts, as well. This has to be my favorite:

In case you can't read this it says, "Confidence is the feeling you have before you fully understand the situation."

And, finally, let me share this goofy little thing we found in the Microsoft gift shop. Just squeeze the cow's belly and the foam ball shoots out of its mouth. How's that for awesome? If only I could find a way to demonstrate. Hmmm....