Nope.  I’m not talking about that list of qualities your fairytale in-laws possess in your dreams… You know, the dreams where eating organically isn’t considered “hippie” and you and your mother-in-law share the exact same tastes and shoe-size?  No?  Just me?  Humph.

I’m talking Christmas Wish Lists + The In-Laws… i.e.: Sticky Situation in the Making, right?

Telling Evs’ parental units what I want for Christmas continues to be awkward for me… This is definitely one of those aspects of marriage that I never considered when we got engaged.  Last year, I was overwhelmed by the generosity of his mom and dad.  However, while I do love a pretty package under the tree with my name on it, if it were 100% up to me, I wouldn’t make any specific requests from my new side of the family for the holidays.

However, my Mother-in-Law insists upon the submission of a Christmas Wish List prior to Halloween.  Yep, we have an Early Shopper on our hands.  Which, kudos to her - I always find myself, eight days before Christmas, circling the mall parking garage aimlessly, stalking exiting shoppers for their parking stops and beating my head against the steering wheel in time to Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree.

Ahem.

Anyhoo, as instructed, I recently submitted my In-Law Wish List.  As always (”always” being relative since really this is my first year to have technical “in-laws” but whatever), I followed the Three Cardinal Rules of Gift-Requesting-From-Non-Blood-Relations-You-Don’t-Have-Sex-With:

(1) Lots of options
(2) Lots of price-points but nothing over $50
(3) No clothes (don’t ask me why - just feels weird)

Now, without further adieu… The In-Laws Wish List!

{Read the rest of this entry…}

Here we are in Week #3 of my series on Etsy Finds for all of life’s spheres!  Last week we explored Etsy’s options for our fall closets, and this week its time to accessorize!

Galit Barak

While offering all types of jewelry, I pick Galit Barak for her 14k gold crocheted cocktail rings - bold enough to be worn as a statement piece but dainty enough for all occasions!

{Read the rest of this entry…}

Several inquiring minds have asked about my favorite items received off our registry and, while this may seem like a post more suited for the EAD Weddings, I decided to run with it over here in hopes that ya’ll like sneak-peeks into other folks’ homes just as much as I do!

Warning: I’m skipping over the items that I would guess 95% of American brides register for - we all know we love our colorful Kitchenaid mixers and our china pattern (if we went that route), and I would bet that most couples get great use out of their Calphalon / Le Creuset / All-Clad, etc.  So I’ll be concentrating on items that (a) surprised me with their usefulness and/or quality, or (b) are a bit out of the ordinary.

First up… a Good Quality Wood Cutting Board

We have the Artisan Cutting Board from Williams-Sonoma and I freakin’ love this thing!  Its big enough for a decent work station yet unobtrusive enough to leave out on the counter all the time.  Its light, making transfers to pots on the stove a snap.  And its good looks enable it to work double-duty as a serving platter (great for a cheese display).  Synthetic cutting boards definitely have their place in my kitchen, but I use this one every day and never put it away.

Basic White Dinnerware

If you know me, this one probably comes as a shocker because I love color!  I have candy-apple-red appliances, citrus-colored Le Creuset pieces, and the only thing in the “whites” laundry pile at our house are Evs’ undershirts and my athletic socks.  Even the china on our registry features a bright turquoise pattern.  But for some strange reason, my practical side took over when it came to everyday dinnerware (we chose Pottery Barn’s Great White Coupe collection).  I had half-convinced myself that we would end up taking all of it back in exchange for something more vibrant like Fiestaware (which I still adore), but food just looks so nice and clean and pretty atop the blank canvas of white dishes.  Plus, I love mixing these dishes with my collection of funky table linens and appetizer plates.

California Poppy Collection at World Market

{Read the rest of this entry…}

I’m back from my blogging hiatus. Sorry for the disappearance. To make up for it, I have a product review. As with all my other reviews, I offer the standard disclaimer. I am not being paid by or am affiliated with the product being reviewed, etc. etc.  So, on with the program. I have a review of the Flip Ultra Video Camera.

In the last couple of months, Flip Video cameras have been mentioned in several magazines and blogs such as USA Today, Time, and Team Sugar. All the talk really piqued my interest. Its biggest selling points are that it is affordable, compact and easy to use. I take a multitude of still photos, but am clueless about video. I frequently use the video function on my point-and-shoot camera, but I wanted something that offered better quality videos.  My grandma blowing out her candles on her 100th birthday. The silly way my dog chases her tail. My three-year-old niece singing “Do-Re-Mi” from Sound of Music. These are moments that are better captured on video not just as stills.  As someone who has no experience with video, a Flip Video camera sounded right up my alley.

{photo from Author’s Personal Collection}

{Read the rest of this entry…}

Baby gifts are so much fun and I think part of the fun is thinking about what you would have liked when you were a kid. Now that I’ve had a baby and have had a chance to use all of the gifts, I know what gifts will save your life in the middle of the night! My other favorite gifts are the ones that I think he will remember when he’s older and what items he’ll always cherish.

These are some of my favorite favorite gifts that I received that weren’t on our registry.

Fill in the Blankie

These blankets are so wonderful and such a great keepsake! A friend of ours in Dallas sent one to us after Hudson was born and it lists his full name, birthdate, time of birth, and weight.

The examples shown below are for a baby’s baptism, but these blankets can pretty much be used for any occasion and you can personalize them however you want to.

So precious! And they are perfectly packaged!

{Read the rest of this entry…}

Who doesn’t love a great smelling home? With two dogs, a baby, and a husband it’s not so easy anymore to keep my house smelling super yummy. I love light, flowery smells and because they’re safer I love reed diffusers. I have a diffuser in every room. Prior to a month ago I had pretty much written off candles.

Then I found Low Country Luxe. Todd and I celebrated our one year wedding anniversary in Savannah, Georgia and I found this amazing little store called The Paris Market and Brocante. What an adorable shop! It truly feels like a Paris flea market with tons of amazing furniture finds, books, glassware, and gifts.

While in the shop, I discovered the most amazing candles by Low Country Luxe and they’re made in Savannah!

image via Low Country Luxe website

The brand has scents called Gullah, Charleston, Savannah, Sea Grass, Spanish Moss, and New Orleans. My favorite, though, is called High Cotton and the scent combines a creation of citrus trees and pink and white dogwoods, tea olive spiked with lemon and lime, white grapefruit and peach. Doesn’t that sound delicious and oh-so-Southern?

All of the candles come in the most beautiful packaging and the glass container that the candle sits in looks great in our living room. The only problem with the candle was convincing my husband that this candle was worth the price. It totally is!

If you can’t decide on a scent they even make a package of travel-size candles that includes one of each scent. Sounds like the perfect gift to me. Or the perfect gift for me. If anyone wants to send one to me I’ll make sure to get my home address to you!

How cute are these softie monsters from Chasing My Star?!

Perfectly whimsical, and perfect for children.

Or adults who refuse to grow up.

I am very much about the seasons, especially the Christmas season (yes, I do consider Christmas a season all its own).  Every Christmas I try to be judicious about my decoration purchases and only buy things I would actually want to pull out and use again the following year.  This year I fell in love with the twig reindeer from Pottery Barn.  My family picked up on my adoration and were kind enough to pick me up a family. Aren’t they adorable?

We had two guidelines for our Christmas gifts this year.  They had to be under $100 total ($50 each) and handmade (by us or someone with a shop on Etsy/Big Cartel).

Gifts for Him:

• Bicycle shirt - $20 from DeadWorry
• Letterpress print - $12 from Lizard Press

Gifts for Her:

• Hand Warmers - $16 from KmKnits
• Wood Journal - $18 from Night Owl Paper Goods

We both came in under budget and are VERY happy with our gifts.  I cannot wait to write in my journal!

What gift guidelines do you have for Christmas?