Cozy gift ideas for the ... cozy kind of girl

Alright, lots of things I would like, and some I have even tried and can recommend!

1 - Small side table or plant holder from Urbanoutfitters. - I hve been eying this for a long time, and its a nice piece of furniture, solid.
2 - Floral curtains, to brighten the gray winter days, via Urbanoutfitters
3 - Sassy gloves via Urbanoutfitters. Furry lined, I just bought some for my sister.
4 - Trendy animal sweater @ Madewell
5 - Sorel Fernie suede slip on boots; so light and comfortable, my winter boots
6 - And some slip on Benison's for indoors.

7 - West Elm dutch oven, in Enamel Cast Iron
8 -  Cozy blanket, fireside, while eating your stew
9 - Cozy Paidrag slippers.
10 - Colouful, cool bear print. Hello Santa, Please!
11 & 12 -  And two hip pieces of jewellery from ofmatter, that I gifted myself but couldn't wait until Christmas morning to open them.

Gift guide for the 10 year old boy

I am enjoying looking at all the blogger gift guides. Tonnes of inspiration and tonnes of beautiful things. And sometimes a bit overwhelming.  Up until yesterday I had done lots of online gift buying, taking advantage of Amazon free shipping and beautiful crafts on ETSY (yep, share the wealth).  I decided yesterday that I need to get off the computer and into a mall. We did hit the local craft market on Saturday, but we were pressed for time and accidentally squeezed this errand in at the busiest time. We cruised through the crowds, I spotted some handcrafted felt items (beautiful round, pot holders), directed my son in that direction and I waited while he bought me a gift.

But I needed to get to a mall (I cant believe I said that, two times already!), and pick out a few items for my kids. Things I didn't want to buy on line; things that I wanted to hand pick, touch and inspect.

The mall was "empty". My two year old spotted Santa, so we went over to say hi. Adorable, (first time for this mom, as my son was never interested in talking to Santa, he liked to observe from a distance). Lucy didn't want to sit on his lap. She stood in front of him, leaning on one leg, rocking side to side, answering his questions. I couldn't hear her, but Santa did say loud enough for me to hear, "You do not know what you want?!...well come back later when you do know, let me know." He gave her a chocolate and she was freaking delighted. I was curious how she answered the prompt "Have you been a good girl?". When I asked her, I got a lot of "I dunno". She ate her chocolate and fell asleep and I got on with the task at hand.

Normally I like to browse and find things on my own, but all this online shopping has made me impatient. I would take a quick walk around the store and leave when I couldn't find exactly what I wanted. When I spotted a few items I liked, but not in the right size or colour, I would get the clerk involved (something I used to avoid doing)...  "Hey, is this it or are these leggings stocked else where? Have any of those ribbed leggings in dark green? Have any of those velour flare lounge pants toddler size? Have any size 1 underwear for a petite toddler?" Much more efficient then browsing and digging for things myself.

I managed to find a few things. I have an inclination for both kinds of shopping now, although on line may be winning. Click around, click in all the search options, down to every possible particular, and then wait for parcel to arrive.  Although this kind of shopping requires a bit of organization and an earlier start in the month, if you don't want to stress.  I like to do in store shopping much closer to Christmas, with bits of crowds, hot chocolate and only ONE item on my list...like socks. Easy to find and grab. And I also prefer it to be snowing. Big snow flakes you can catch with your tongue.  AND if I lived in my old city, I of course would much prefer shopping via a skate down the frozen canal to the market, browse the local shops, jump into the mall to warm up and back outside... but this city that I have lived in for 15 years has changed that preference.

If you want gift suggestions for a 10 year old boy, the rest of his list goes like this (look at him concentrating so well, picking the perfect font and letter size):

•  Winter Clothes: Fuzzy socks, fuzzy pj's, house coat
• Board games: Apples to Apples
• Remote control cars
•  Magic cards please please please
• three layer trident gum

And his letter to Santa:

•  A big stuffed Domo
• A Sock Monkey
• 2 Ugly Dolls
• A typewriter
• A Messy soccer jersey (blue and purple jersey)
• Some worm clothes (I guess) (note from editor: I was told to fix the spelling mistake before printing, but i thought it was too funny to bother to fix)
• Ping Pong Table

There you have it, an authentic gift guide for a 10 year old, written by a 10 year old.

And for your two year old: "CHOCOLATE". Lots of it.

Shout out: Blogs, links and independent shops

Doorsixteen is supporting and hosting a page for independent artists, designers and crafters for this holiday season shopping (Its her 6th year doing this). All the links to the independent shops are in the comments sections.  The image links directly to the post. The image is available for anyone to use and share. I suggest going over there and browsing through the unique and thoughtful offers. Oh yea, discounts listed as well!

I came across D16's post a few days ago, and clicked on several of the "vendors", fell in love with a wooden triangle ring from (of)matter and treated myself. I'm quick to make such decisions! Poking around her ETSY shop revealed some really sweet and shapely jewellery so I picked out some black triangle earrings and gold circle earrings, as well as the wooden ring.  Gifts for myself! They arrived yesterday (very quick processing&shipping) and were packaged lovingly in little boxes and bags.  They were met for my stocking but I was too curious and dug in and donned them. My little 2 year old thought it was very cool that I had triangles on my ears.

Look to the right of my posts and you will see an ETSY column which displays and links to unique ETSY shops; showing my most current & favourite items for gift ideas - lots of kids stuff, but some decorations & jewellery as well. See the wooden ring. Oh, so cool. The brass bar ring is also really neat.

And a bit of humour, Swissmiss recently posted about "Lid Sid", HA! Just what my new kitchen needs. Little people dangling over my pots, propping open the lid, releasing steam. Everyone needs that.


And dont forget LOCAL: After clicking on these links and any other gift guide links ... don't forget to turn OFF the computer, get off the chair, get OUTside and find your own local craft venue. Enjoy the hustle and bustle and ambiance of shopping your own local crafts sales. We are hitting our Plowshare Craft Fair this weekend.

A Christmas gift list

Actually, its not just "A" Christmas wish list, its MY Christmas wish list.

1) Upside down No-Fuss Hanging Air Plant Pods cool as a cucumber specifically designed for a Tillandsia plant. I ordered one for my sister and brother in-law. And one for myself. (p.s. this link takes you to fab.com where one can purchase this item for 30% less BUT its one of those sites that you have to join...and I may or may not get a commission if you click on that link and join/purchase although I. no. intention. for this ... I just love the plant holder. You can check the artist out on  Etsy as well, and click his link to fab and support him.

2) Snow shoes. This particular item has been on my wish list for the past 5 years. I wonder if I will treat myself.

3) A Mystery Box. I ordered this for myself. And then an HUGE box w/ no return address arrived. Huge, like three feet tall. I was tickled and decided to put it under the Tree (that I still don't have) for Christmas day. And then, a week later, a smaller box arrived. Stamped with Wuslu. I peaked in the big box to see who this belonged to ... my mom. She ordered stuff for the kids and had it sent to my house. And the Wuslu Mystery Box, I decided not to save it. It was a nice surprise, a feedbag pillow with a (lame) quote on it and a couple wooden boxes with more quotes. Hello pinterest all over.  Two the of the quotes bored me and now these things will be gifts for someone else. (Again, Wuslu is some kind of membership type of store, good for flea markety shabby chic stuff - click the history button if you want to find the mystery box item)

4) Patagonia sweater jacket. YUM. I tried this jacket on last summer. Yes 16 months ago. It felt beautiful. I was in between sizes so I didn't want to dump a pile of money on something I may shrink out of. I haven't shrunk so I am wishing to get this with the cash my parents usually gift me.

5) Ikea Sheep Skin rug, for my new sofa. (idea implanted into brothers head)

6) leather vintage belt from ETSY, plates from Anthropologie, to finish the set I started, the "Undecorate" book to go with my "Decorate" book; tea towels (I couldn't wait, Lucy keeps stealing mine and swaddling her plush friends), linen table cloth (not on my Christmas wishlist, I just want another one ... if I ever get to the fabric store. An easy peasy thing to make, order 3 yards, wash to fray edges and lay on table...I want a gray one. Or a white one. Or both.)


For more ideas, you can click on the ETSY widget to the right.

Looking back, last December, we were breaking snow fall records. I believe MOST of last winters snow fell in December. We went skating and cross country skiing. We felled our Christmas tree. It was festive. This year, so far nothing. Warm and balmy like the first days of spring. I gotta get my Christmas on. Snap.

last years picture

Two gift ideas and a vestibule

Nope, I will not cooperate. I will NOT smile for the camera. I won't even show my face.  Hiding behind this awesome, awesome classic book, The Hockey Sweater by Roch Carrier, about a boy and his loyalty to the Montreal Canadiens. We are off to a Christmas party and the Sens vs Canadiens game on Saturday.

HA. Persistence prevails. I got you AND a smile!

Crocheted Sock Monkey hat from ETSY. We bought the hat a month ago and it's sweet & chunky. Lucy loves to wear it. It seems the store owner is out of stock right now ... but there are plenty of inspiring things on ETSY ... I have found many and bought several gifts over the past few weeks and am anxiously awaiting their arrival.

And, hopefully, the vestibule work will begin today.

I wont get into the estimate and then the discussions concerning the estimate. It has left me with an ill feeling about the whole thing but I decided last night that I will move forward with this job regardless. AND I will be sure to use this experience in my favour, when I am ready to start the kitchen in a few months.

Some sweetness "I-found-a-chocolate-and-put-the-whole-thing-in-my-mouth" look

Who me, innocent.