My Favorite Things for 2011

I had almost forgotten about my "favorite things" entry for this year again, so here we go!

I just recently picked up a pair of Mossimo Paisley Platform pumps in red from Target. LOVE THEM! They are practically stilettos, which I've never had before, and such a hot shade of red that I couldn't resist. Normally $29.99, Target had them on clearance for $20.99 and all of the Paisley Platforms were going quick. They were also available in black and taupe. And for stilettos, they are quite comfortable and sturdy feeling. I don't feel like I'm going to tip over and break my neck in them!

I was also lusting after these shoes from K-Mart: Glo Women's Jayden Glitter Platform Pump in gold because my sister has them. These are very similar in appearance and shape to Target's Mossimo pumps but covered in glitter. While they look like something a stripper or Barbie would wear, I needed these shoes too! They are available for $24.99 online or $20 in the K-Mart my sister got her's from, but on Black Friday, I got these shoes for $12.99.

The Ocean View Dog Park just opened up here in Norfolk earlier this year. Before, our neighborhood didn't have a dog park and the closest one was out towards downtown and Ghent. "The park was finished with the help of Norfolk Sheriff's Office Inmate Work Crews who provided the free labor. Seven City of Norfolk departments also had a role in getting the open space fenced in, which costs $8,000.00, according to the Ocean View Business Association." This is turning out to be a great place to visit, with both humans and canines alike, and the people who frequent the park take real ownership in it. People have donated plastic bags, hand sanitizer, plastic chairs and even a picnic table to make it more user friendly. It even has it's own Facebook page!

I stumbled across the Poems brand of yarn at Three Oaks Knits in Waterloo, IA and instantly fell in love with this yarn. "Poems is a 100% wool roving yarn featuring artistic colors which shade easily from one color to the next. Perfect for sweaters, scarves, hats, and more --- and it felts like a dream!" This is such an easy to work with yarn. I got four skeins of it in Twilight Thicket and I'm almost done with the pair of socks I'm making with it. It actually works up incredibly soft, airy and lacy. It was $7.00 per 109 yard skein.

I decided it was time to replace my still working and reliable (corded) mouse this year to a cordless mouse, so I had my husband pick out a good one for me (I am so NOT a techy person). He got me the Logitech M305 Wireless Mouse from BJ's. "The 2.4GHz wireless connectivity and a plug-and-forget nano receiver deliver fast data transmission and a reliable connection. Intelligent battery management extends the battery life by turning off the mouse when it is not in use." It sells for $24.99 and I like this because it's very smooth when being used. There's no skipping or jumping. The mouse is powered by one AA battery. I don't always remember to turn the mouse off when I'm done with the computer, so this first battery lasted for several months. When the battery died out, it actually just stops. There's no warning about remaining battery life.

My husband introduced me to Tijuana Flats this year. "At Tijuana Flats we make innovative, exciting and fresh Tex-Mex food served in a friendly and relaxing atmosphere. We also offer a wide array of hot sauces." It's similar to Moe's in terms of menu and sauce bar, but without the line at lunchtime. From what my husband tells me, the line at Tijuana Flats moves faster at lunch than Moe's moves, but that might be due to the fewer ingredients Tijuana Flats has. However, you won't even notice the ingredients Tijuana Flats doesn't have. They also have an excellent range of sauces to try before you buy by the bottle; 10 varieties ranging from sweet to their little death face.

Of course, my year wouldn't be complete without mentioning my new Singer Fashion Mate 5500 from my husband. :) "Although automtically set for optimal sewing precision, stitch width and length is fully adjustable for all of the 100 built-in stitches. The stitch package includes 6 fully automatic 1-step buttonholes and 76 decorative stitches including intricate decorative designs." In the store, this sold for $189, just like on the website.

And to go along with the sewing machine is Dollar Tree's line of kitchen linens and textiles. As we speak, I'm working on a Christmas swap on Craftster, and with this new machine, I've learned how to embellish plan kitchen towels. Looks like I'm going to make some more of those for future gifts! And the nice thing about Dollar Tree? Even though it is a big corporation, they are headquartered in Chesapeake, VA, so it's kind of like supporting a local business by shopping there. "Just as important, especially during these tough economic times, we continue to offer our customers products they need at extreme values! We carry a broad, exciting mix of merchandise that includes many trusted national and regional brands."

So there's this year's "Favorite Things" entry. If you've got a favorite thing, let me know what it is in the comments below. Thanks for reading!