In general, Sundays are one of my favorite days of the week.  I get up early and start the day with some hot yoga, have a leisurely breakfast/lunch with Patrick and the rest of the day is spent relaxing, enjoying the winding down of the weekend and looking forward to the week ahead.  But this past Sunday was a little different.  I spent the majority of Sunday hanging out with my sister doing something we both love – crafting and shopping!  When you can spend the day with one of your favorite people doing something you’re both ga-ga over, what’s better than that?

After a sweaty, yet calming yoga session, I headed over to my sister’s neck of the woods to grab some breakfast and to strategize our game plan for the rest of the morning.  I couldn’t think of a more suitable place than Panera Bread – plus it happened to be right across the street from our first shopping destination.

Me in the car after yoga – don’t I look refreshed?

No line at Panera?!  That never happens!

We ordered one whole grain bagel to share along with two cups of coffee.  While I could probably eat three whole bagels in one sitting, Michelle and I decided to opt for splitting one with a schmear of butter.  It cuts down all all those carbs and makes the belly less full for shopping.  After all, shopping is a sport!

While sipping our freshly brewed, guess who called?  MHC!  She either has ESP or has some sort of tracking device on us because she always seems to call whenever we are together.  Maybe it’s her mother’s intuition?  Obviously, we extended the invite, but MHC declined.  While she likes spending time with her daughters, crafting isn’t one of her faves.  Oh well…more bonding time for the Sisters Chow!

“Yeah Mom, I know my sister is the best…!”

Ohhh, I’m so hot like my coffee!

After finishing our breakfast, we trekked on over to our first destination – Jo-Ann Fabrics.  Holy crap on a cracker!  That store is insane in the membrane!  I’ve been to Jo-Ann’s in the past, but not recently.  If you’re crafting and Jo-Ann’s doesn’t have what you’re looking for, then you don’t need it.  Talk about oh-em-gee!

“Um, can you hurry up so we can start shopping already?”

BTW, any guesses on what we’re making?

After about an hour and a half at the crafting supply mecca, we headed across town to a place I’ve never been to before.  Fortunately, Michelle had visited this place in the past and was able to get us there in a snap.  Our next shopping destination was truly a hidden gem.  I wouldn’t have been surprised if you had to give a password to the doorman in order to get in.  It was just one of those places that was in the middle of nowhere and wasn’t in the most friendly looking of areas.  However, I was pleasantly surprised by the interior of the store.  Our second shopping destination, Downstairs at Felton Antiques, was jammed pack with all things antique.  It was as if we had walked into another world.

While Michelle and I were mostly interested in the vintage jewelry, we couldn’t help but take a peek at everything this place had to offer.  There were antique art, photographs, knickknacks, furniture, glassware, pottery/china, shoes and housing fixtures.  Everything was so interesting; I could only imagine the history behind all these things that filled the store.  While I was intrigued by all the items for sale and wanted to capture them on camera, the store owner seemed less than thrilled.  I managed to snap a few photos before she inquired as to what I was doing.  While she said she didn’t mind, I didn’t want to further press her buttons and stopped my picture taking efforts.  She was a pleasant woman, but just didn’t seem to want me taking any more photos.  A blogger can understand…

After about an hour or so, we made our purchases and our day of crafting and shopping came to an end.  While we did more shopping (and chatting) than crafting (which will be postponed for a later date), our afternoon couldn’t have been better.  I’m so lucky to have a sibling that has such similar interests as me.  The synergy that we share when we’re shopping, designing, creating and of course, just hanging out, is one that can’t be matched or duplicated.  Because we’re sisters, it’s easy for us to brainstorm ideas with one another, but it’s also easy for us to be brutally honest.  I don’t think there’s any one else in this world with whom I can share these kinds of Sundays.  But then again, sharing comes natural to us.  For instance, we shared our breakfast, our crafting supplies, a bedroom and an apartment in the past, our jewelry business presently, our wardrobe growing up as kids, cooking duties and of course, a womb (thanks MHC!).  When you’ve been together (literally) since the beginning of the life, you get pretty good at supporting each other and having each other’s back (literally), it makes sense that I wish ’sister sunday’ could be ’sister every day’!

My share of the loot for the day

Do you know what we’re making yet?  Any ideas or thoughts?  Astrid, you already know, so you can’t guess !

Namasté,
Nicole