2-for-1

via hulaseventy

hula seventy, one of my favorite bloggers, is having a 2-for-1 sale of her awesome polaroid prints. Go check out her shop - these prints would be a great gift to share with two of your favorite people, or maybe just one of your favorites so that you can keep the other print for yourself - I certainly would! But maybe that's why I'm on the naughty list this year.

from our kitchen to yours

Nothing says Merry Christmas from the heart quite like a gift you lovingly made yourself. As you know I'm a big fan of handmade gifts, even more so when they're created in the kitchen. I haven't done any holiday baking or cooking myself, although I have bookmarked some festive recipes that I really want to try. But, with the holidays being such a busy time of year and with Christmas Day being next week already (now how did that happen?), sometimes there just isn't enough time for rolling out dough for a plate of cookies, waiting for a candy thermometer to register 236 degrees for a pan of fudge, or coating popcorn for a tin of caramel corn. As much as I love to cook and give gifts there are times when I don't want myself or my kitchen floor to end up a flour coated, sticky mess which is usually what happens when I bake. So here are some easy recipes that require very little kitchen time.

Candy Cane Sticks

via marthastewart

Or another variation on this is Peppermint Sticks. Both would be easy to make and remind me of this.

Big Batch Rubs

via realsimple

Mulling Sachets

via marthastewart

Scented Sugars

via marthastewart

Another easy homemade gift idea is to dip anything edible in to melted chocolate. You could use dried apricots or any dried fruit for that matter, almonds, pears, pineapple, marshmallows, or pretzels. The possibilities are endless! You could even use a spoon.

Whether you are buying gifts, making gifts, or baking gifts I hope you are having a happy holiday season!

handmade & local

'Tis the season . . . . for shopping- that is if you believe what the television ads, magazines and reality shows tell us Christmas is about. Don't get me wrong, I love giving gifts and receiving gifts, but there's so much pressure to buy, buy, buy and most of it's stuff that we don't really need anyway. All I know is that I don't want to hustle and bustle through crowded stores and stand in long lines with grumpy people who are maxing out their credit cards and fighting over the last "it" toy of the season that their child has to have. That all takes the joy out of what Christmas is supposed to be about. So a few years ago Ebert and I decided not to "buy" in to the commercialism of the holidays and convinced most of our family members to do the same- so there's no presents, it's just all about the food and the people and the creating of holiday memories. We'd much rather spend our holiday season decking the halls, roasting chestnuts on an open fire, rocking around the Christmas tree, or simply dreaming of a white Christmas.

But, if I were to present shop, which I do love to do, I would buy handmade & local. And since there are so many great gift giving guides from fellow bloggers, especially from myprettymommy who agrees that "we just don't need anymore STUFF", I couldn't help but share some awesome gift ideas from local Chicago artisans.

Silver Window Ring inspired by the rose windows of Chicago churches.

Vintage Heart Brooch.

Tiny Leaf Necklace.

Framed "Midwest is Best" Postcard.

Knitting Case.

Garden Blooms Upcycled Felted Wool Mittens.

LOVE Letterpress Print.

Choose To Be Happy Wall Decal.

Nature Print of an Autumn day in Chicago.

Wooden Alphabet Block Set.

Lemon clock.

Waiting For Spring drawing in eco-friendly frame.

I'm loving pretty much everything from mojospastyle especially this tweed handbag, brown velvet purse, purple flower hat, infinity scarf, neckwarmer/cowl, and rosette turban hairpiece. Yes, just about everything from this shop is lovely!

A Chicago favorites gift basket from Southport Grocery.

1154 Lill Studio custom made handbags.

And don't forget to check out the Renegade Handmade Store in Wicker Park- it's the perfect shopping destination for handmade gifts!