the first day

had the day off yesterday so i took a little field trip.  one of my favorite stores in chicago is just off the magnificent mile (michigan ave/chicago) on rush street.  Anthropoligie!!!!  (i love the catalogs, save every one.  i look back at them for color and design ideas when i am planning knitting projects.) if you've only looked at a catalog tho....you MUST visit a store!!!  www.anthropologie.com

 i could just move in there!  i would be quiet as a little mouse, they would never know i was there.  i could take a little nap in that great, big, beautiful, fourposter bed they have in the romantic bedding dept.  under those three or four fluffy duvet covers they would never even know i was there. 

i can just taste a yummy late' in one of those great late' bowls, with the cutest homemade french marshmallows (that are now for sale in tins). i would enjoy this sitting either by the magical decorated Chrismas tree with all those cute, tiny sweater ornaments or by that stone birdbath that is now filled with sparkly faux snow and bluebirds for Christmas.  and when i'm finished...i would be the perfect guest.  i would do my own dishes in the antique sink they have there, where they are showing off all the cute dishes and towels, you know the one with the real, running water.  see, they would never know i'm there.

what a dreamy store!!!  what i love is the non-christmas, christmas items you can find at anthroplogie.  and i love, love, love the displays inside and the front windows.  i usually just stand outside for a few minutes.  just like at the Marshall Field's windows.

i could fill a shopping bag and be $300 poorer in about 20 mins. but what did i buy?  well i spent an hour drooling and enjoying and walked away with:  4 not so christmasy christmas mugs @ $8 each in bright colors, with apples, finches, snowflakes and sparkles on them.  for $16 a knitted/felted, ice-skating girl ornament, and for $3 a card with instructions and ribbon and yarn bits for gift wrapping. (i thought the price was great and mostly took it home for inspiration).  and a head-full of free ideas!!!

oh, and treated myself to a Micheal Star's long sleeve t-shirt.  they're the best.  if i could only have one shirt for life this would be it.  i have a short sleeve and wear it every time it's clean.

added later:  hey, just browsing the blogs and kathi over at  http://www.liquidskyarts.com/liquidblog/blogger.html  must be thinking the same thing go check it out.