I'm trying so hard to get a handle on the holidays this year. I'm always behind, and broke when it comes to buying gifts come December. Oh, you holidays you're such a tease....with your glitzy shops, and glistening lights. Try to be a frugal woman around Christmas-time, it's impossible.
Every year I design a very cheeky holiday greeting card involving my dog Jerry posing in some sort of holiday faire. Last year he was a reindeer. (scroll down December's Archive to see). Usually I just go with the straight Santa theme though, I thought for a moment about buying this outfit for our yearly photo-shoot, but I think I can do better. Time is never on my side and I'm trying to scramble for ideas. Hmm...he hasn't been an elf yet.
I'm also trying to figure out a cute invite for our yearly Christmas Eve party. One year I made custom cds with holiday music and the party information on the label. Other years it's been cute little handmade cards. It's a very casual family party. We have a white elephant gift exchange (the main event of the night). It's funny to see who can can come up with the silliest, craziest, most out-of-this-world gift....and then see everyone try and steal it when it's their turn. Later in the evening, if it's not too cold we take a walk through our neighborhood to look at all of the crazy light displays. Every year they have a decorating contest, and everyone tries to out do each other. I'm sure some streets are already conspiring their decorating themes as I write this. Last year there was a street that filled all of the magnolia trees that lined the street with fake Oranges (the fruit the city is known for, in the old days this was all orange groves) and fairy lights. Another year, one street lined the sidewalks with white candle luminarias on judging night. Some of the displays can get quite gaudy, while others just take your breath away. I want to decorate my porch somehow with lights this year, maybe with some hanging lighted snowflakes or stars, then line the steps with potted Pointsettias...I can't believe how many color variations they have of those these days.
It feels too early to be writing about Christmas, but I know time is going to just fly come Dec. 1 and I guess I needed to get some thoughts down. I was at the store today, and noticed they are already selling live trees in the parking lot. I guess that's what got me thinking...Tick-Tock.
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Here are the candy boxes I mentioned before, that I made for the recent gifty exchange. The theme was sinfully delicious... I decorated the boxes to each represent one of the "seven deadly sins". The lust box had red foil covered chocolate lips inside, the greed box had candy coins, gluttony had chocolate Champagne bottles ...well you get the gist! It was so fun making these for one of my favorite blogging gals, Giao. If you haven't checked out the results from the "gifty" craze...do! I'm guessing Leslie is probably already cooking up a new exchange idea for round 2, to announce sometime soon. It's great fun!
I'm really looking forward to the long Thanksgiving weekend...and seeing Bridget, Daniel Cleaver, & Mr. Darcy. (In the novel the actor Colin Firth was an actual character that she interviewed, so I'm curious to see how they worked that one out in the film. Wait, don't tell me...I want to be surprised! )
My Friday was beginning to look grim when my first thought of the day was interrupted by two evangelists peering through the window then knocking down my door to preach to me about the end of the world. Cheer up guys. I hadn't even had a sip of coffee yet, no sense in breaking anyone's door down until they are properly caffeinated. Don't they know the rules!? Yesterday, it was a man with gold front teeth trying to sell me magazine subscriptions. I'm sorry, but nothing says "untrustworthy" like gold teeth. Besides that, I'd already fell victim to that scam once in college, never again. I was sad to have to make a "NO Solicitors" sign for my front door today. You know, I feel so violated by these pushy types that if I had the power to build a moat and drawbridge I would. So Elizabethan of me, I know.
Luckily though, through the power of gifty my mood is lifted. Look at the loveliness that was waiting for me on my front doorstep today. A package from the lovely Gnome G, filled with "Sinfully Delicious" chocolate, hot cocoa, and other yummy sweets. The best treat of all though were the warm handwritten greetings and handmade goodies from her shop The Walrus & The Carpenter. She sent a yummy "red apple" soy scent, "buttered rum" lip balm, and "cherry spice" bath butter cups. Thank you so much Giao for the great gift, and Leslie for thinking up such a neat exchange ...it really brightened up my day.
Over the weekend I spent some time in craft mode, working on some goodies for the upcoming gifty exchange . I'd hate to give the surprise away, but I can say some really lovely handmade paper was purchased and used to make some very unique candy boxes in the process. (See yummy collage paper below)
from provocraft.com
I'm still working on finishing my office. Once in the decorating flow, I couldn't help but start to daydream about giving all of my old furniture away and changing over to all of the beautiful things I've been eyeing like mad in catalogs. Like this neat computer armoire, or this cozy looking daybed.
It's funny how I can drool over expensive pieces like those, but also get just as excited over beautiful things on the cheap like these embroidered pillows from China Town (2 for $10). Yay!
I still look a little disheveled, from waking up so early to go make my way to the polls. I heard on the news that there could be as long as a 4 hour wait in line to go vote, so I thought the earlier the better. When I arrived the line was already out the door, with young and older voters alike. As it turned out having a last name at the end of the alphabet, and having a friend working the polling area was my lucky key to breaking to the front of the line. I don't know why I was so surprised to see my friends faces working there, this community is full of people who love to be involved. After-all, that's why we jokingly call it Mayberry. I'm anxious for this all to be over now, everyone in this country has been so divided over this election. I'm not sure how it'll all turn out but one thing is certain, I've never felt so empowered than I did this morning when I cast my vote. I left with a spring in my step, proudly wearing my "I voted" sticker.
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Over the weekend, I built an inspiration board for my office. Basically, it's just a regular corkboard in a pretty frame. I saw one like it in a fancy catalog for over $200...I happily built mine for $10. The frame came from a very eccentric old man that lives in my neighborhood, that scours the alleys when no one is looking for discarded treasures that he later sells on the cheap. This one was particularly battered, so I acquired it for free. All it needed was a bit of paint, really. The cork came in a roll via Target ($10).
I originally was going for a gold gilt frame, but changed my mind in the process...painting over it with black, then going back and rubbing paint off letting hints of the gold show through.
During this process, the most peculiar thing happened. My nephew who was over said, "I just saw a seashell crawl across the sidewalk...it came out of that bush, LOOK!" We turned our gaze down, and sure enough there was a shell waddling on the sidewalk headed for the next embankment of bushes. We picked it up, to discover a hermit crab had indeed somehow found it's way into our yard. What's really curious, is that it looks like one of the shells I had lying around from my fishtank. Very Peculiar! I have no clue what to do with him...but in the meanwhile have named him "Hermie".
Here he is crawling around inside the barrier of my gold painted frame.
My new inspiration board, currently lacking what it's title infers....but in time it'll get there.
I also went a little crazy with one of my favorite tools...the glue gun....and made some very sparkly push-pins out of my grandmothers old clip on earrings. I have so few reminders of her left, they really make me happy. The card on the right is an enchanting watercolor by one of my favorite modern surrealists, Daniel Merriam. It's called "The Other Side Of Heaven".
It's really hard to choose a favorite painting by him, I love them all...but my favorite online handle Telestic Tea, is taken from one of the titles of his paintings.
