Etsy Week: Hats!

My kids love hats. I love finding cute, clever or fun hats for them in the winter. I don't knit or crochet, but I love the look of some of these. Check them out!

NJwithLove sells these cute hats for around $25. Who? you asked? NJwithLove, that's who!

This is my other favorite from her... Isn't is Tweet?

By the way, I've seen hats like these all over Etsy, ranging anywhere from $10 - $50. Definitely worth a look-see if you plan to do any early holiday shopping!

And with Halloween right around the corner, who says a newborn can't dress up too? WeeBeePhotoProps has the cutest handmade hats for props. These are great for the baby's first photo shoot or for Halloween. I was at a shower a few months ago and saw one of these, and I've even purchased a sock monkey newborn hat I've found on etsy in the past. They make the sweetest gifts and WeeBee sells them from $12-$25. I couldn't decide on just 1 favorite, so here are a few.

PDXBeanies sells all kinds of beanies for sizes babies up to ladies - some with flowers, some without. I particularly like this one. Most of hers run around $36.

I have found that most fleece hats sell on Etsy.com between $8-$10. There are so many cool ones too, like dragons, and Hello Kitty, and tons of sports themed ones for men. Of course I had to see if they had my team, The Colts (<3 me some Peyton Manning -- MMM) and I found this little gem~~

MimiMakesMemories is a business run by Mimi & Jackie and they will take custom orders (message them your team preference) for these scarf/hat combinations. They come in adult sizes and run $38. I think this is a great gift idea!

So what do those people who raise Alpacas do with the wool? Well, if you're FootloosePalouse you make English Driving Caps and sell them on Etsy.com for $30! As long as I can remember my father wore these kinds of hats!

And finally - from HanuChic. At $29 this Newsboy/Military hat is my favorite pick of the day (If I were shopping for me, that is). I just love it. It's a slightly worn look, yet feminine and classy at the same time.

Oh - wait! One more thing! I forgot that I was gonna tell you where I got my daughter's sock monkey hat for her birthday 2 years ago. I found it on Etsy for $29 from sockmonkeykook. Although she doesn't make the hats anymore, she does sell the pattern for $4.50. Here is a pic of PrettyPrettyPrincess in her hat.

And for those of you who do crochet or knit or sew, perhaps one of these hats have inspired you to make some of your own. If that's the case, well then... Hats off to you! Tee hee!

What Would You Do For A Klondike Bar?

Okay -- first of all, regarding your comments about the hat from yesterday's post. Yes. I will definitely take a pic of it the next time I am wearing it. In the meantime it is something sort of like this.

The thing about a "pageboy" or "newsboy" hat for MY head is that I have to find one that isn't too "tall" and yet not too floppy. The brim can't be too wide or hang over too far. It's finding that perfect one that is the key.

Now, onto the story of the Klondike. I was riding the Frontrunner down to Salt Lake Central Hub. As I entered the train so did two other men. Do you remember Lenny & Squiggy from Laverne & Shirley? (If you're too young to know what I'm talking about, just keep it to yourself! haha!) Anyway, that is who I immediately thought of when seeing these two dudes. Lenny and Squiggy. One was tall and the other short. They were both a little quirky and yet sort of thought they had the coolness factor going on. The Lenny type was a little more laid back, while Squiggy was a little louder and little more ostentatious. Had he cooled it in the doofus area just a smidge, he could've maybe pulled off a quirky and yet somehow cute and lovable Jack Black.

Anyway, we exit the train and I am dying of thirst so I head over to the snack shack to buy a drink before connecting to Trax. Squiggy makes his way over to the snack shack too. He is reading the little white board of specials, out loud, mind you. As the girl is getting my drink he says to me, "So, what would YOU do for a Klondike bar?" while he is tapping at the words "Klondike bar" on the board. I realize he is talking to me. I smile nicely and say, "I actually don't like Klondike bars. I'd much rather have an ice cream sandwich."

He replies, "true... and a dollar forty? Is any Klondike bar worth paying $1.40?" I say, "No." And then pointing to the "Choco Taco" listed on the board I smile and say, "But I might be willing to something for one of those." His eyebrows grow high across his forehead and he says, "Please. Continue."

At this point my drink comes back and I am shaking my head, laughing as I am paying. Squiggy is dying over my comment. "What?" he begs. "Would you sing? Dance? SkyDive.....?" I look at him, laughing and shake my head while tucking my wallet back into my backpack. Then, I sort of raise my drink as if to say, "Have a nice day" and begin to walk away. He is still shouting after me, "...climb a mountain? Kill a bear? Bunjee jump...?"

I laughed all the way to the Trax train. Too funny. I know, I know. I probably shouldn't have encouraged him with my Choco Taco statement. But seriously, have you had one of those?

Anyway, so that is the story of the hat and the Klondike bar. Hmmm.... now I wonder. Just what would I be willing to do for a Choco Taco? hehehehehe.

The Power of My Hat

I'm not kidding. I think there are special powers in my hat. Ok, so I've always wanted to be the kind of gal that can pull off wearing a hat. I never have been. I mean, I guess I can wear a ball cap with a pony tail and look okay... but I've always wanted to be able to wear a cute hat!

My daughter has always been able to wear hats -- ANY kind of hat too. Check it out...

She is sooo stinkin' cute in her hats and all it sorta makes me sick! hahaha! Just kidding...

So recently I found a hat that I like and that I thought I could actually pull off. But it was waaaaay more than I was willing to spend. Then I found one at Kohl's on clearance that was the exact same style AND I had my 15% coupon on top of that! So I bought the hat. I actually loved it so much, that when my friend gave me her coupon I went back and got another in different colors.

Anyway, so I usually wear my hats on Tuesdays because that is the day I take the Train down to Trax which then drops me off right in front of my class at Library Square. It's gotten colder and because it's a 4 1/2 hour class, it is freezing by the time I leave and I wanted a hat to help keep me warm.

What I've found is that there is magic in these two hats. Seriously. When I wear the hat, things happen to me that don't normally happen to me.

Case Study #1

More people will strike up conversations with me on the train than before. Before the power of the hat, people just left me alone. But with the hat? Oh, they are just a talkin' and a talkin'. Magic.

Case Study #2

Also, last week I got stuck at work and missed the first two trains. I was able to catch the third train, which usually doesn't get me to the hub in time to catch the connection that gets me to class on time. BUT -- like I said, the hat is magic. The train was on time and somehow got me to the hub earlier than scheduled and I caught an earlier Trax connection and walked into class just as the instructor was starting! Magic.

Case Study #3

After arriving in class we were told about our upcoming group project. I was approached by two others to be in their groups, but for reasons I will blog about at another time, I wanted to be in a different group with someone else. I did not want to approach this individual because we have never even spoken to each other in class. But, from his comments, I knew we would work well together. Well, guess what! I wore the hat and after class HE approached ME and asked if I would like to form a group with HIM! Again ~ Magic.

Case Study #4

Yesterday a guy from the train tried to flirt with me. It was almost too precious. I shall blog about that too later this week. But, it was the power of the hat. I'mma guessing he just couldn't resist the power! hahaha!

Case Study #5

Each time I wear the hat I've been told I look younger than I am! w00t! In my class I was telling someone about when I was a freshman in college the first time around in the Fall of '92. He was all... wait. HOW OLD ARE YOU? Of course I didn't tell him, silly boy. I figured if he really wanted to know some basic math might help. But he said, and I quote, "You don't look a day older than 28!" 28? Ok, I'll take it! Then, last night on the train a man was trying to start up a conversation with me and said something about how he wanted to watch a movie or do something exciting for the weekend and we got to talking movies and concerts and musicians. He asked me about a musician. I said I never heard of him, but I think my son has. Then he asked how old my son is and I said 16 and he said, "Wow. I thought you were in your twenties!" TWENTIES? Wow! It's the hat. I'm not gonna lie.

Magic. Yup. There is some sort of power in the hat. Can you borrow it? Nope. It's mine! All mine! Bwahahahahahaha! Oh, but I will tell ya that if you're lucky you can get one of these magical hats at Kohl's for 40% off right now. :)