Box O' Fun

Everyone knows that the box the present comes in is way better than the present itself. 

Zach was generous enough to share his box of packing peanuts with Lucy. She enjoyed herself immensely. 

Gift Guide

I really enjoy giving gifts and don't mind spending money on something as long as I know the person receiving it will love it, but sometimes it can be hard to know what people will love!

Personally, I love it when friends and family members have an Amazon wishlist so that you can pick something that they will definitely be happy to get. (Because they picked it out and requested it.) You can even add things from other stores/websites to your Amazon list so that all your dream items can be found on one easy list. There is also a place to add comments on each item, such as size and color preferences, and a way to itemize each item by priority so that people looking at your list can see which items you want the most. 

One last reason I love Amazon wish lists is that I can buy someone a gift spur of the moment and it will automatically be delivered to them. You can even buy e-books for people and they will be able to download them to their own e-reader. So handy. It makes gift-giving easy and stress free, and the recipient is always surprised and delighted to get something they have been wishing for. 

For some people this registry format of gift-giving spoils all the fun of giving a gift. I still think wish lists are effective in these cases as a resource to see their tastes and preferences. Wish lists are helpful either way, even if you decide to stray from their specified list. 

Here is a gift guide I've put together for the different people in your life to help get the ideas flowing.

For Couples: 

1. Movie ticket vouchers with a note attached including your services as a free babysitter for when they use them. 

2. A new board game in the same vein you already play with them, and you know they like. 

I recommend Curses and Avalon for anyone that loves to laugh. 

3. Gift card for a local restaurant. 

For Sisters:

1. Faux-fur Snood

2. Hanae Mori: My new favorite perfume

3. Fortune Cookie Box

For Moms:

1. Glitter Tart Server

2. Chocolate Fondue

3. Bringing Up Bebe by: Pamela Druckerman

For Dads:

1. Tickets to a favorite sporting event, concert, or play


2. DVD set of their favorite television show



3. Magazine subscription to Sports Illustrated, National Geographic, etc.

For Teens:

1. Teenage Beauty by Bobbi Brown

2. Comfort Chair: Great for camping, sports events, and picnics.

3. Birchbox Subscription: For her, or him.

Or an Ipsy subscription. 

For Kids:

1. Crayon Maker: Recycles leftover crayon pieces into new crayons. You can even combine colors to make new colors.

2. Sun Art Paper Kit

3. Crayon Rings

For Brothers:

1. DIY Music Box

2. Curious Lists: A Creative Journal for List Lovers

3. WeWood Watch: So many cool watches to choose from.

For Your Sweetheart:

1. Love Stories from Story Corps

2. Letter In A Bottle

3. Gift certificate for a couple's massage




What kinds of things would you gift for these categories?

What is on your wish list? I always like hearing recommendations! 

Surprises in the Mail

Lucy loves walking to the mailbox with me each day to check the mail. She points out every house her friends live in, and makes some up as we go along.

Lucy was delighted when there were two packages for her in the box! The first was a package of paint brushes from my good friend in Idaho, and the second was a homemade Christmas pillowcase from her Grandma Gayle. She was ecstatic! She promptly let me know that she needed to make some artwork, and sat on her newly covered pillow all evening and carried it around the house.

She also really loved the cards that came with the gifts and still carries them all around the house with her.

Thank you for the fun surprises!

Mommy and Me: Thrifting With Lucy

I had the great idea to take Lucy on a fun outing to the Antique Mall last week to look for some treasures. I love going to this store and seeing all the fun things they have. 

Note to self: Don't take small children to a tightly packed mini-mall full of breakable antiques. 

Despite having to tell Lucy to fold her arms, follow me, and not to touch anything (x 100), we had a pretty good time and took some fun pictures.

We ended up buying a pair of clip-on pearl earrings for Lucy for $1.00, but in the process she also lost her pansy ring she was wearing that we had thrifted the week before, so I guess we'll call it even.

Lucy loved trying on all the glasses she found. 

Ah! Who is who? Is that Lucy? Or should we call her Nana? (Ps. What a cute picture of Kay and Peter.)

Sooo cute!

Tempted to buy this dress for $12, but wasn't sure if they had a dressing room to try it on.

I loved this Madeline hat, but not for $10.

I can't wait to go back and bring some of my friends, but definitely on a day with no kids. Maybe they will even have found Lucy's lost pansy ring by then!

Thrifted: Pink Glass & Brass

Oh, how I love a deal. The thrill of the hunt and victory of finding a treasure in the middle of a whole lotta junk.

Here are a few of my finds from a few months ago.

Short brass candlestick holder: $0.69, Gold and pink Neiman Marcus decanter: $2.00, Pink glass: $0.29,
Tall brass candlestick holder: $1.29

Neiman Marcus Decanter: $2.00

Lucy modeling her new favorite accessory: Purse for $0.69

Blown glass vase: $0.50

The new home for this is the mantle above the fireplace. 

Set of six: $0.29 each

Perfect for a hot cocoa party.

Various cuff links and tie bar as a gift for my brother.