Man, oh man, another market is over and I’m d.e.a.d. tired! I got back late Tuesday night and I think I’ve been sleeping ever since then. Which is quite a feat, since I’ve actually been at work for two days.
Once again, those Australian gulls (translation: girls) wore me out. (I’m the self-appointed translator for the gulls. They did much better this time, but there were still people who had trouble tuning their ear to the AustRALian accent.) Anyway, we had another wonderful time with tons of really hard work and lots of fun.
The week was really a blur and I’m sure I have my events out of order. The first night of booth set-up, we took a field trip to Ikea. We’d been working hard all day and we were running late, so we decided to take in the fine dining of the Ikea cafeteria. We were laughing a lot, but really, it wasn’t too bad!
I’d heard so much about the swedish meatballs on blogs that I had to give them a go (translation: I had to try them.) Kellie and I loved the lingonberry jam or jelly or chutney or whatever-it-was sauce. Yum, Yum. The sauce and the apple (in the corner of the picture) provided the fruit, and therefore made the dinner healthy.
We had to hurry and shop before the store closed. I’m not sure what Kellie was doing here, but I’m pretty sure no hats were harmed in the making of this picture.
After a blitz through the store, checkout was pretty entertaining. The gulls aren’t big fans of the self checkout. Especially the signing of the little box with the stylus part. I can’t remember what’s different about here and AU but there was something amiss. I was feeling very international — shopping with Australians in a Swedish store in Houston. You know. Texas. A country unto itself.
Since the gulls were so well behaved and didn’t make me chase them anywhere, the next night I “let” (haha) them have a little visit to Anthropologie. Oh My. We all love that store. Look at the super cute paper plate display on one of the walls.
Some of those paper plates are embroidered with food and words. Too Cute!
Kellie was fascinated by the sunglasses. Do they have sunglasses in Australia? Surely, they must.
And Jan was faux-modeling the sweaters. I tried to get her to buy this cute little number — maybe next time. Not that I’m telling tales or anything, but we sort of had to drag one little clothes-loving shopper out of there, practically kicking and screaming. (Anthropologie SLC stock up!)
By now, it was after 9 p.m. and we were hungry so we wandered (translation: limped with SORE feet) the streets looking for food. Not having a car this time sort of put a crimp in our style. (The gulls very rudely made fun of me because I don’t know how to use a taxi. It’s not my fault I didn’t know that the light on the top of the cab means it’s empty — I never need a taxi!) All this limping and I was happily distracted by the pretty bow on Banana Republic’s head. The Christmas decorations were gorgeous, even if I was a little miffed that they were up before Halloween.
Still no restaurant, but we hopped into a Walgreens for lollies. (Lollys? Translation: Candy) At this point, the gulls almost reverted to their old Target wandering ways — they split up and I had to keep one eye on each of them. Kellie went to the lollies
and Jan hit the magazine rack. How on earth do mothers of twins do it? You’d think I’d be better at this by now!
After Walgreen’s we wandered a bit more and landed at P.F. Chang’s for a late dinner. In the bar, to avoid a wait for a table. And if you can believe it, two someones tried to pick my cute little twins up. Sheesh, you can’t take those two anywhere! (I think it helped that the someones appeared to be spanish-speaking and they only understood english. Since the gulls don’t speak english, they were safe.)
So, this was the scene, late every night. Returning to the hotel, dog tired. This may have been the night that the cash box almost ended up in the hands of one very un-deserving waitress.
But, that’s a story for another day, this post has rambled on long enough! Next time I’ll tell you all about who I met and almost met at market. (I know you’re just waiting on the edge of your seats. Ha!)
XOXO,
Anna
thanks for sharing your market “trip” with us…do tell who you met!!
i am exhausted just reading about your wanderings…
my kind of “shopping” & “exploring.”
did you happen to purchase those cute muffin tins & liners @ ikea?
Glad you made it home safe and sound and hope you recover soon!!!
you’re too funny!!
You’re a better man than me, Thimbleanna! One morning of Festival was enough for me. Love quilts and the goodies and seeing an old friend, but whew! It’s hard work. Glad you made it home safely.
Ha ha! What great adventures. It sounds like a good time was had by all…can’t wait to hear more!
sounds like fun!
Looks like is was lotssss of fun xoxo Clarice
Thanks for the run-down.
you are too funny.
i LOVE that little sweater jan is modeling.
did you venture into banana republic? 66% of the males in my household are outfitted by BR at most given moments (well, interchangeably with JCrew). And the other 33% is *sometimes* outfitted by BR against his will.
can’t wait to see the rest of your pics.
and hear all the stories.
thanks for sharing… and btw, it’s probably not the best idea to eat mystery ground meat in a large chain store. i almost lost it just looking at the pic!!
lingonberries are meant for the middle of aebelskivers and don’t you ever forget it. you make the aebelskiver batter (not omitting the cardamom!) and then slip a teaspoonful into each one just after filling the cup with the batter and before turning. then you douse those puppies with powdered sugar and eat whole.
my mouth is watering.
i am girl with lingonberries so i can make them soon!
nite. it’s late here in cali.
:waves madly
Sounds like a fun week! And all your translations are making me smile = candy in Scotland = sweeties!
Ikea meatballs – they also make me smile…..
Twins – must me nuts….I remember seeing toddler triplets at a campsite once – every time they left the tent they all ran off in opposite directions…..
What fun you all had! Incredible how IKEA looks the exactly the same all over the world, down to the plate of meatballs.
Hello there..
Ok Swedish meatballs at IKEA.. is NOT that YUMMY… and for the lingonberry jam.. it is definetly not that tasty… I Promise…;O)) Homemade is best.. :o)) But its ok..
Lovely post with you and the Gulls… so much fun.. hope to be ableto go .. someday in my life to a quiltmarket.. :o)
It sounds like you all had lots of fun! Cant wait to hear who you nearly met too.
What fun! I always loved the way they decorated those shops on Westheimer in Houston…like big packages. So pretty!
lots of fun with the Aussie girls………..
Quilt market and Anthropologie – i am very jealous!
Glad you had so much busy fun and hope you are all recuperated by Monday. Where’s the fabric……..
It sure sounds like you had a lot of fun…I’m glad.
No wonder you are tired!!! Sounds like you had a ball!!! Can’t wait to hear more of what you got up to! lol
I wish there was an Anthropologie here!
Wow, what a week! No wonder you’re tired! lol And I AM sitting on the edge of my seat, anxious to read about more of your adventures. :)
Looks like lots of fun! Can’t wait to read the rest of the story!
(Hmmm – kind of fascinated by the embroidered paper plates….)
I don’t think you had any fun at all at market! ha ha ha Every time we go to Ikea in Atlanta, we head straight for the cafeteria to get meatballs. Then we walk through the whole store to work them off! (Except my husband who tries to cut through all of the short cuts!) I am sitting on pins and needles waiting to see who you met. I’m sure I’ll be jealous. :)
Anna – thanks so much for sharing! So funny! I love the Banana Repblic bow!!!!
too funny – can’t wait to hear more!
I was contemplating attending this time, but didn’t want to miss Halloween with the munchkins, then ended up booking holidays for Nov 1st – I am now on your side of the border!
perhaps i will meet you at the next one!
ps – I love that I don’t have to decipher the squished up little non word…..oddly enough my blog still gets spam comments so some machine somewhere can still read them!
Sounds like exhausting fun!
Isn’t it remarkable that you can buy an IKEA dinner (meatballs and all) that looks and probably tastes exactly the same around the world! We are redoing our kitchen and I’ve been to Ikea A LOT recently and had that very same meal!!!
You might have to put the twins IN a shopping cart next time. That was the only way I could corral the triplets, but after I got all my girlies in the cart, I had no room for stuff. Oh, I get a little geared up just thinking about all that had to happen just to take a little trip to the store. I do not miss things like trips to the store with three babies and two toddlers. Lots of thing I do miss, though…like the smell of three little wee ones sleeping in their room. I’m serious. There was a scent. Part baby shampoo, part sweet milky breath, part little girl. Mmmm…heaven, I think.
Looks like you had a lovely time at market. Welcome home. Take care, Anna.
Hmm, should have bought that top! Missing you lots but lovely to be back with my family…..although the six 10 years olds here for a sleepover party are almost making as much noise as us…..almost!!
Welcome home!!! You-have-been-missed. Sounds like a fantastic trip (lots of fun, hard work, adventures) and can’t wait to hear/see more! Staying tuned for more of the exciting adventures of Thimbleanna!Thank you for sharing!
Oh my gosh! What a fun post! What a time! Looking forward to more stories!
i can’t wait to read more about your market experience! you need to spill many many more details for those of us that missed out this round. please????
How cute. They seem super sweet. Oh, Ikea, it’s been too long. Come to Indy, Ikea…please.
Oh it looks as though you had so much fun! Ah I love Ikea, I do. Not all that much of the chici modern loveliness ‘goes’ in our funny little old cottage though. Sometimes I yearn for sleek lines (and right angles with no wobbly walls).
I showed Malcolm one of your photos and said ‘what’s that’ … ‘meatballs’ he answered. Another photo – ‘Ikea’ was the correct answer. Yes, the Houston Ikea and meatballs are exactly the same as in Edinburgh (Scotland)!! Sounds like you had a lot of fun …. I should have been there, as I can speak Australian. Looking forward to seeing what you bought!!
Sounds like a fun adventure!!
Oh, what fun. I’m glad SLC is the next stop. Need help?
I spent three days at Aspen Grove this week sewing away with 60 other quilting ladies. It is so much fun! It is my favorite thing to do every year. I even finished 3 different quilt tops, made two needle holders, an organizer for my sewing supplies, practiced machine quilting, and literally ate enough good food to gain 3 pounds…that part wasn’t so great. Can’t wait o hear more about your trip!
Anna, I loved reading that- being an Aussie (gull?) leaving for a trip to the US in 9 days. I have never been before, rather excited. I wonder what sort of lollies Kellie bought!
Oh my gosh! I can see you had a hard, but fun time “baby sit” the gulls! I’m almost exhausted only by reading! LOL!
Rest up! You should be rested by now. I want to hear more!
Sounds like a great time! I thought that light on top of the cab meant it was taken. That Banana Republic looks great with the bow on top. Love the paper plate with the pie!
Thanks for sharing, sounds so fun! I bet you’re planning to use your mad embroidery skills for special Thanksgiving plates!!
Thank you for sharing your market trip with us!! I would love to go one day. I am not tired of reading about market, it helps me ‘be there’ :) Great pictures of the booths.
They don’t speak English lolol!!! What an amazing time you had. I’m feeling a definite need to go to Ikea and Anthropologie right now. I’m going out to dinner with my dad tonight and I’m actually contemplating changing our destination so that I can visit them. They are right next to each other. I would be miffed at the Christmas decorations too. I hate it when they put them up too early.