Tis the season everyone. As I’ve been doing the normal holiday shop about, I’ve run across several things that I personally LOVE. I can’t quite figure out why it is when I am shopping for ‘someone else’ does it seem that I find everything I just swoon over – typically I’m not a very good shopper, nor do I even like it much, but for some reason Christmas brings out the shopping devil that has been buried for the past 11months. Well, I thought I would share some ideas and some of my favs so far. From stocking stuffers to that one person you just have no clue what they could want – there may be some inspiration involved to get you thinking in that right – last minute – direction. Can you believe it’s only a WEEK away? December is one of those months that fly by in the blink of an eye. I can remember looking at the calendar beginning of the month and telling myself I had plenty of time before the holiday was breathing down my neck. Not so much the case now as I hurry towards the finish line. The one thing I usually try to do is ‘make’ something unusual. Most of the time, they end up being tacky ornaments that I paint or somehow create, much like your first grader that brings home a collage of paper and glue that form an unusual shape that you suspect should be a snowflake – Yeah, well……least I try to put myself into the gift somehow. It’s the thought that counts, dammit! This year I made a few things, that of course I can’t mention b/c that would give it away. But I did find some Christmas Paper that I’m a little OBSESSED with. It’s beautiful blue foil with alligator imprint. I know, that sounds a little odd. I don’t really recall ever saying I was ‘normal’ though, so I guess it’s another oddity I can loop into the pool of unusual quirks. But don’t lie – this paper is FAB!
Now, let me share some of my favs. Some I just love and some, you may just love. Feel free to send any of these my way if you are feeling overly generous.
I love this belt. It seems homemade, but as in my case of ‘homemade, much better quality. Hey, what can I say – I will admit that I HAVE HOT GLUED BUTTONS ON instead of sewn them. Ahem. So I really appreciate someone else’s handi work when it comes to fabric art.
This is one of my favorite stocking stuffers: MOOSE-staches!
If I knew how to embed the image into the blog, I would, to keep you from having to click here and there. I guess you can see how much I blog and how fluent I am with – umm, just adding my pics and that’s about it.
I love the idea of this photo journal. For many photography forums/classes one of the first things they want you to do is start to see the beauty in your world. What moves you and the best way to begin this process is a 365 day photography journal. Take a photo a day of something, of anything, even when you don’t feel like it at all. JUST DO IT! Once you do start taking photos and making it a daily routine – somehow you begin to look for the beauty in things you had taken for granted in your ordinary every day life. Love this idea!!
If there is one thing I really really love – besides coffee, chocolate, photography, art………I love good bedding. I am actually borderline obsessed with it. If you have never had a really ‘GOOD’ down comforter… I have to recommend Pacific Down Comforters. They are AMAZING. I actually just threw mine away after I have to say 15 yrs. It got washed in the regular wash and feathers ended up all over the place one too many times, so I’m having comforter envy and really missing my comforter. If you are one of those folks who love ‘SOFT’ things, this is the softest, comfiest comforter I’ve ever had.. and I’ve had a few. I can’t say enough wonderful things about this brand.
One of the ‘bucket’ list items for me was to get back into my art. Where I’m very happy and I found these markers that are AWESOME. For any of you that sketch visual journals and want to add some color to your world, I recommend these. They are smooth, easy to use, seem to have a lot of ink in them, although I haven’t used them all up yet, so I’m not sure how long they actually last – I do know the colors are vibrant and impacting if that’s your thing. It just so happens to be ONE of my ‘things’ so I know the product is a good one.
Perhaps this one is a little ‘out there’ for some, but this is a wish list of sorts and winter……so this bolero is so beautiful I think I’d feel guilty wearing it. It’s so soft and feminine that it just screams beautiful and an occupant that will stay in a bubble as to not let anything spoil it’s beauty.
I grew up in the midwest and have always had a fondness for cows. I understand it doesn’t seem too humane to love cow hides, I rationalize that they died for someone’s dinner plate so may as well not waste any resources. I am a resourceful animal lover. I will, in my lifetime have a cow hide.
Stocking stuffers: These are really cool but I think they’d be even cooler if they were personalized with your own photos but anyone can use Magnets.. and cute ones at that.
I used to get weird soaps like this when I was younger and thought……EW! GROSS. They looked funny, the bar was too big and awkward and the smell was usually not like the bath and body works fragrance fest I had grown accustomed to. Lately tho, since I’ve matured, I appreciate the artisian-ship that goes into these hand made soaps and I love that it doesn’t smell commercial.
Turquoise is a stone that has power. The power of the Turquoise is usually ‘protective’ and when I had my piece a while back, I used to keep it nice and snug in my bra against my heart so that my heart was protected. I have somehow misplaced that stone over the years, but this necklace would be a great way to keep it near and dear to you so the turquoise is always right over your heart space.
Since the dryer gets hungry about the time I take the socks out and end up with ONE of any set, I seem to go on the hunt for socks often. I can’t resist these socks and any girl I know would love a fun pair of these.
Clock collection? I have plenty of friends that have them and trying to find an unusual clock is on my check list. This one was fun! This prolly won’t fit in a stocking so don’t try to stuff it if it won’t fit.
Me and High Fructose Corn syrup aren’t friends on any level. So, I look for products all the time that are made with actual SUGAR instead. This is a process and a half to say the least. The funniest thing I’ve found is most european products are all made w sugar while America is a cauldron of HFCS in pretty much everything. I wonder if they are doing studies on that being the reason America is so overweight. Some examples are Ketchup, yogurts, drinks.I was really CRAVING candy the other day and I set out to find something with sugar instead of the syrup concoctions and there was NOTHING, not one single option – bc every sweetened product in America, is made with Corn Syrup. YUCK! Sugar is hard enough on your body, that’s a given but then introduce that foreign stuff that not only raises your glycemic index but is a foreign toxin that your body doesn’t know how to metabolize. Booooo! Needless to say, I found Italian Sodas that are made with Sugar instead and fruits with carbonation. Delish. World Market makes a really good one too. These do the job and seems to be less artificial ingredients. I haven’t heard of any Italian Sodas being able to clean crime scenes.
I’ve always been an advocate of letter writing. I know I’ve found old letters from my mom, my grandparents and when I see their writing, their penmanship, it’s like they are right there with me. I say, make an effort to write letters so your handwriting is out there somewhere to be found and cherished. Don’t underestimate the astonishment and appreciation someone will have when you send them a letter you sat down and wrote for them. I love going to Barnes and Nobles and having a Starbucks while checking out this department. Write someone a letter!
It would take a special woman to appreciate this and not get offended by it instead. I love how frilly and sweet it looks, so I’d be thrilled to sport this hoot!
Umbrellas are always one of my favorite props, but I love the hearts AND that it’s see through! I can just seem this paired w a cute rain boot.
Organic, smells like you belong on an island and hydrated skin. Happy Girl! Lotion.
My apologies for all the open links. Someday when I figure out how to embed the images, I will do a better job at blogging. I hope you get everything on your lists and extend your humanitarian spirits to those lonely or less fortunate this year.
Merriest Christmas From Tomme and Erica!
by Tomme
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