Merry Christmas friends! Thank you for a fun and magical year of blogging. I'm signing off for the rest of the year. I'm going to enjoy the holiday season back home in Phoenix with family and friends. I'm looking forward to some time off. Although I'm always creating my happy, it will be nice to unplug for a while. See you in 2013.
P.S. If you're reading this then that means the world didn't end. We survived! Now lets all treat each other with love and compassion.
I haven't done a lot of baking this holiday season, in fact, I think I've done more indulging in other people's delicious baked goodies than baking myself. But I was able to find time to bake these delicious loaves of bread: eggnog chocolate chip, cranberry banana nut, and pumpkin cranberry.
I'd still like to bake this bread, these cookies and this cake, but I'm really trying to embrace this saying.
“For my part I know nothing with any certainty, but the sight of the stars makes me dream.” ~ Vincent Van Gogh
I think this is a perfect quote leading up to the last week before Christmas. It's a good reminder to enjoy what's really important!
These are the handmade gifts I bought for my sister's boyfriend's kids. It was tough coming up with separate gift ideas for a teenage boy and a 6 year-old girl but I think I did an ok job. What teenager wouldn't love a zombie beanie? Perfect for the impending zombie apocalypse. And for the girly girl this personalized apron is super cute!
Only 11 more shopping days until Christmas! Are you making your list and checking it twice?
Pretty polka dot pencils to write down all your heart's desires. These patterned ones are cute too! I'd give these pencils along with one of these pocket notebooks for a perfectly paired gift.
Happy Beckoning of Lovely!
In case you didn't know, Amy KR is one of my favorite people. I've been lucky enough to cross paths with her on several occasions since I've moved to Chicago: we chatted on the phone once, I rode on a train with her, Ebert and I beckoned the lovely with her on 10.10.10 and she even shared my experience on her blog, and I randomly ran into her walking down the street after the greatSnowpocalypse.
When I hear Amy KR's name I just smile and when I watch her videos they bring happy tears to my eyes. She is inspiring and creative and wants to save the world with loveliness.
If you want to join Amy and me and all the other Beckoners of Lovely from around the world in saving the world then here's what you do:
To find out more about 12.12.12's Beckoning of Lovely watch Amy's Ted talk.
Do something lovely today- "make the most of your time here"!
I really, really want to make this apple cider syprup. It may take a few hours to make but I love that the only ingredient is apple cider. She suggests pouring it over brussel sprouts or to put in a hot toddy. Both sound delicious!
I've come across some more great gift guides that I just had to share-
With the busyness of the holiday season sometimes there just isn't enough time for DIY projects. If you're like me and are having too much fun with holiday gatherings this week, hence the lack of posts yesterday, then don't spend time making coasters buy these cute modern grey felt coasters instead. There are lots of other design and color options to choose from if you don't like the neutral tone of greys.
I'm acquiring a new fondness for gin. I've always liked gin & tonics as a summer drink but never really thought of it as a liquor to drink during the fall and winter months. Then I discovered this rosemary gin cocktail and it tastes like a delicious fall night. I think trying out new cocktail recipes will be a great winter activity.
Original artwork can be a wonderful gift and reasonably priced too. I've always loved her photos- pretty art prints from original polaroids. Her shop has so many great options. This one is another favorite of mine.
I'm really happy to share with you a new favorite blog of mine...Sunny in Seattle. The creator is my lovely cousin Andrea. Isn't her logo super cute? I'm looking forward to keeping up with all of her adventures in Seattle. I'm even more excited that I'll get to see her soon, we'll both be back home in Phoenix for the holidays. Less than 3 weeks until the family fun!
Today I'd like to share with you the holiday gift guides from some of my favorite bloggers -
With gift guides like these searching for great Christmas gifts is almost as much fun as giving them.
Christmas ornaments make great Christmas presents!
Every year since we've been married Ebert and I have bought an ornament to a go on our Christmas tree. We wanted to start our own ornament collection since both of our childhood ornaments are still at our parent's and it just doesn't seem right to take them. The funny thing is that we've never bought a Christmas tree for our ornaments to go on. In fact, we've never bought a Christmas tree together...ever! One year we will.
This was our first ornament. We found some great handmade wooden ornaments for year two and year three at the Kindlmarket. We've decided to keep with the theme of handmade and wooden for year four with this awesome solid walnut snowflake ornament. I can't wait for it to arrive! I really like this tradition of handmade and wooden ornaments, themes are good. I think the only exception will be for every 5th year we'll do something different. I'd still like a handmade ornament but just a little bit fancier.
These candied clementines look so pretty in glass jars. Tie some bakers twine or fabric around the jars for a festive look. I'd love to try the clementines in a cocktail. Putting pieces of them on top of this cake is probably really delicious too!
Here's to this last month of 2012 being filled with love and magic. Happy December 1st!
And here's a look back from 2011 and 2010.
These coasters are oh, so pretty! What I love most about this gift idea is that you can make these for just about any one on your nice list. I mean, who doesn't use coasters? And you don't have to use pretty paper- there's holiday paper, vintage paper and paper that would almost be too silly to use.
For anyone who is trying to master a skill, who is practicing a craft, who has a passion burning deep inside them or if you just like sushi...watch this documentary, Jiro Dreams of Sushi, it is pretty amazing!
I'm loving this handmade shoulder bag from upcycled bike inner tubes. Being the bike riding family that we are we have a lot of old inner tubes around the house- it's nice to know that we don't just have to throw them away anymore. We can donate them for upcycling.
Ebert and I gave this clutch as a birthday present to his mom a few months ago. The shoulder bags are a bit pricey so this is a nice alternative. It would make a great stocking stuffer!
Colorful and fun yarn ball bookmarks! If I were going to make these I'd also go to my local used bookstore to find an interesting art book about London or an organic cookbook or a children's book from my favorite author and give them as gifts that way.
As much as I love our new toy there's nothing like the feel of paper in your hand as you turn the pages of a book. I love walking into an old bookstore to see the rows and rows and shelves and shelves of books. It's exciting to think of all the stories behind those bindings.
