Dear Santa

Remember how it felt when you were a kid and you got the big holiday toy catalogs? Pages and pages full of sparkly new toys, the likes of which you've only dreamed of? And all you could think of was cutting pictures out to send to Santa in the hopes that some of them would end up under your Christmas tree? 

Well... this is my new toy catalog.

 

Page after page of the most scrumptious sounding bath and body goods known to man. So I'm just putting this out there- I wouldn't turn my nose up at any Christmas stocking containing some of the following:

Christmas Cracker

Christmas Present

Gingerbread House Tin

Or really, let's be honest here. I'll take pretty much anything from Lush that fizzes, bubbles, or lathers (and maybe even some that don't). That stuff smells so darned good and makes me feel like a million bucks, so it's a-ok with me.

gifted

 

 

These pictures are super old but I finally got around to giving this blanket to my brother and sister-in-law (who are expecting their first baby very very soon!) so I can finally post it! It was a pretty fun knit, and easy, and I love how it turned out. I felt pretty productive getting this all finished up and sent out, especially since I have been (sadly) not doing much knitting this year. I was browsing through some of my old photos recently and saw how many projects I completed in 2008, and compared it with 2010, and let's just say I would be a very busy lady for the next two months if I were to try to get even close. Shame shame.

bring it on, winter!

I fell in love with these gloves-in-progress on SockPixie, and I'm hoping she publishes a pattern soon! My cold hands could use a little something new and cozy.

happy feet

 

Is this not the most amazing rug you have ever seen??

hay shop via the dainty squid

papercuts

How cute are these paper mobiles from gosh & golly? (spotted on Paper Crave)

On a slightly related note I've decided that I want to decorate my home for the holidays with simple white paper rings a-la kindergarten classrooms everywhere. I'm pretty excited. :)

like?

To be honest I've never really liked Tom's shoes. Sure the story is great and they give shoes to people in need and they're good people and everything (and I've heard the shoes are comfortable), but if their shoes are ugly I'm still not going to buy them. Even the gold Tom's which have become the new Converse in weddings everywhere (just trust me) I think are rather hideous. But now they have these gold herringbone ones and, well, I might like them...

Now on my book shelf: Amy Sedaris

I already own her first book, I Like You: Hospitality Under the Influence which is a whole bunch of brilliance so as soon as I heard that she had a new book coming out I pre-ordered it. And it came in yesterday! As Sherry A. McMillan, a reviewer on amazon.com, points out "there are no creative ideas for a serious crafter", and perhaps a sham to be among serious craft publications, but it is Amy Sedaris, and it is hilarious through and through. If you have ever wanted bottle cap castanets, fake candles made of either drum sticks or various fruit, or just wondered what to do with all of those seashells and coconuts you have laying around, then you might just get some great ideas here. Otherwise, just have a nice laugh and marvel at the perfect styling and character of the entire book. She has even been on the Martha Stewart show (more than once), and been compared to her interestingly enough, so she's alright as far as I'm concerned.

my goals

I started work on one of my 4 Simple Goals recently and this is the result.

 

 A past peak but still pretty fall day.

 

I'm trying to learn how to use the digital SLR. I know absolutely nothing about photography other than composition, so trying to remember different settings and all that can be a bit overwhelming but I am committed to making a real effort here. My first instinct is always to use Hipstamatic, but hopefully this will become a viable option at some point.

 

Smells like winter

This is what my home smells like right now, and I love it. Really love it. Like can't stop taking deep sniffs and making myself lightheaded love it.

Now I have a couple of confessions to make about home fragrances.

1) I used to buy candles, light them once so it looked like I used them, but not really burn them. I didn't want to use them up because it felt wasteful and for some reason I thought it appropriate to buy candles as decoration only. I have since come to the realization (I'm pretty sure the mister played a part in this) that it might be better to actually use them. Until they're gone. And it isn't wasting them, it's using them for their intended purpose which is quite the opposite of wasting. And also, I'm not allowed to buy new candles until I use up some of the old ones.

2) I insist on using seasonally appropriate fragrances in the house. Candles, hand soaps, well even lotions (I understand I am straying a bit from home fragrance, but you get the drift) are all time sensitive. I cannot use summer fragrances in the winter or winter fragrances in the summer (the exceptions being vanilla and apple, which are good year round. There might be more but that's all I can think of right now.) It is a momentous occasion for my senses when it is time to switch scents for the season. Which is why I am so enjoying the Spice candle I just started on last week. Mmmmmmmm. It gets me all excited for the coming holidays.

Also, as an added bonus, the need for two collections of scents means I can accumulate twice as many candles, hand soaps, and lotions. It's not a trick, it's essential. (come on people, back me up here. The mister is still coming around to this idea.)

Swoon

Gifted Magazine from Creature Comforts is pure magic. I couldn't even imagine cramming more things I love in one little space, but there it is. You will find gift ideas, inspiration, DIY projects, and freebies. And it's pretty. Oh so pretty. Go on now, check it out!

Oh, and did I mention it's November? I had to pause when writing the date today and just let it sink in for a minute. November.