Gift Giving: Stocking Stuffers

So, it's official, I'm going there…. Christmas.  This is the week where I dive in; making lists, preparing my Christmas card, ordering personalized gifts, searching out promotion codes and just plain getting my Merry on… (you must remember we pretty much skip Halloween and, of course, Thanksgiving here in Switzerland; so I'm justified, right?) ;)

When I reflect back on Christmas' past; some of my most delightful gift giving and receiving memories involve stocking stuffers….. proof that some of the best things come in small packages indeed!  So… in addition to choosing the 2 or three gifts for our girls this year; I'll be having even more fun rounding up a fresh batch of simple but sweet goodies for their stockings….  First up, these adorable soaps from The Little Soap Store on Etsy...

I can hear them giggling in the bathtub now…. 

A Cut Above...

Charmed by this cutting board customized with your favorite family recipe....

 my pick... my grandma's buttermilk biscuits or peach tarts

Perfect for gift giving...

etsy

Map it Out...

With the crazy Winter weather that has been plaguing parts of the world; I think a lot of folks have developed a case of wanderlust; myself included.  It's fun to look at a map or twirl a globe around and dream of the possibilities....

I love maps as artwork in a home.  Like books, they can hint at a homeowner's heritage and passions.  One of my favorite "going away" gifts when we moved is a vintage framed print of Switzerland that some girlfriends gave me.  I fully expect it will one day make its way into one of my girls' homes as a precious memento of our time spent here.  Since then, I've also added this fabric rendition (with hearts embroidered in Kentucky & Geneva).   But, now, I'm longing to add another map on a slightly grander scale.  Something along these lines would be nice...

LOVE!

Thomas O'Brien can do no wrong!

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 Ofcourse, the sentimentalist (and navy lover) in me has my eye on this one that you can place pins in to show the places you've been and where you want to go .... 

 I wouldn't happen to mind if my first pin came from here....

Dreaming of a getaway?

Show me some love...

.... so, Valentine's Day is one month from today.  Not sure if it is being the mother of three girls, all that pink, or the promise of chocolates that make me like this holiday so much.  Here are a few things on my radar to help make this upcoming Valentine's Day extra sweet....

heart mittens/Gap heart dress/heart wreath/sophie & lili mimi doll/perfect match card/cookies/essie love dovie polish

.... ofcourse, plain ol' hugs and kisses will work just fine too!

The Paper Chase...

Now is the perfect excuse time for stocking up on stationery to delight some folks with snail mail this year.  I can't get enough of these darling illustrations from Pei Design on Etsy.

 for a more personalized touch, I'm loving these I just received from Jones Street Press...

... perfect for finishing up all of those Christmas thank you notes!

Happy weekend!

I'm Stuffed....

1. Words you are sure to hear coming out of my mouth next week following my over-indulgence in

    sweet potato casserole and pecan pie....

2. A description of a different kind of "fullness" I feel each night as I thank God for the gift of another 

    day 

3. And, literally.... these darling pillows expressing my favorite sentiments all year long....  

etsy

Happy Thanksgiving Ya'll!!!

A very "hearty" thank you to all of you who stop by here now and then.
We're headed off to the States to share in my most beloved American holiday with family and friends.
Be back soon!

Entertaining: Dog Gone It!

One of the things I forgot to add to this list was a good 'ol American hot dog.  They have hot dogs here in Switzerland but they are much more like sausages and aren't nearly as tasty in my opinion (must be the lack of nitrates) :)   I'd love to make it to the ballpark to enjoy my favorite stadium dog; but if not it would be fun to host a little gathering like this one....

source

.... add a kraft paper tablecloth and some smelly markers to the kids table and you have instant entertainment.... add a bucket of ice cold beer and some roasted peanuts and the adults are happy too! 

invitation, hot dog basket & liner, kraft paper, Mr. Sketch markers, Claudia Pearson dog plate, drink bucket, striped straws

oh, and note to self.... don't forget lots of paper napkins....
my last gathering involving mustard paired with these cute seersucker napkins..... not so good. :)

Well, hello Arnold Palmer....

.... let me re-introduce myself..... it has been a long time....

I actually broke a sweat on a walk this morning which got me thinking it is time to start enjoying my favorite summer-time beverage at last....  Sure, I've been stocking up the bar to make happy hour favorites such as this, this, and this but when it comes to summertime hydration; my favorite will always be the half iced tea (unsweet for me) and half lemonade.... (preferably with the lemonade on the bottom and lots of the tiny pellet ice if you want to make me really happy).... I've also been tempted to spiff up the bar a bit with a few of these fun accessories.... with all the "Gatsbyesque" inspired stuff floating around it's fun to imagine lounging about enjoying a beverage in one of these great (and inexpensive) crystal cut whiskey glasses.....

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..... but then again, a plain 'ol Mason jar would do just fine too.... :)
Cheers!

Heading "home"....

Etsy

.... in less than four short weeks.  We haven't set foot on American soil in nearly 11 months now and we are bursting at the seams to catch up with family, neighbors and friends as we "camp out" in our house in the States for a few weeks.  It gives me a chuckle to be reminded of a friend that lived abroad saying that she used to dream of shopping at Target for days before she went home.  I have to admit; a couple of leisurely hours spent in Target with a Starbucks in hand sounds pretty good to me about now too. :)  Here are a few other things I'm looking forward to...

the familiar scent of my home upon entering the back door;
Mexican food;
parking spaces large enough for someone bigger than a size 2 to exit the driver side;
fried chicken;
sinking my feet in the most beautiful sand on earth in the Gulf coast;
BBQ;
price tags that don't make me hyper-ventilate;
Graeter's ice cream;
the English language;
ice and free refills;
country music;
hushpuppies;
good, old fashioned American hospitality (and, obviously, food) :)...

What would you miss most if you moved abroad?

Trading In....

....my old terry cloth beach towels this year in favor of the lightweight, fast-drying (and quite beautiful) turkish variety.... 

Etsy

..... my beach bag and my back are thanking me already!  :)
heck, they might even end up doubling as summer tablecloths for al fresco dining....

Take Note...

It's Monday again..... time to set things back on kilter after the weekend and think about tasks for the week ahead.  I'm a list-maker myself.... appreciating the time to sit down with a cup of coffee in the morning and map out my "to-do" list for the day.  Ofcourse, one can write a list or scribble a note on any ol' scrap of paper..... but searching for that said scrap always seems to irk me.  Having some of these inspirational pencils or monogrammed notepads on hand would certainly make my long list of chores (and groceries, and my daughter's spelling lists, and notes to the teacher).... a little more cheerful.

First up.... the laundry (and another cup of coffee)....

Tray Chic....

.... these hand-painted beauties..... perfect for corralling keys, change, nail polish or perfume; used on a bar cart or even hung on the wall..... I may require more than one.  

Gift Giving: Art Prints

A gallery wall somewhere beckons for a touch of whimsy, inspiration, or just plain loveliness with the addition of an art print this season.... 

Wishbone, Grace not Perfection; French Girl;  English Lit Ideal Bookshelf; Faith, Hope, Love;  Four Eyes; Top Knot; Arrow

With great prints and frames so readily available and surprisingly inexpensive these days.... it's easy to find something befitting of a loved one and his/her interests (like the above pieces are for me)....
I wouldn't mind finding one under my tree. :)

Organize: 2013 Desk Planners

I could hardly believe it this morning when I turned the page of my calendar and it read "October 2".  Whether we like it or not, the year is making haste and I find myself already needing to note plans and commitments in the new year.  Still a die hard paper calendar girl;  I'm on the hunt for a cheerful and well-designed planner to capture them all.  Here are the front-runners.....

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How about you?
"nouveau" electronic or "old school" paper?

Celebrate: Cake Toppers

Over the weekend, we celebrated my husband's birthday..... and while I honored him with his favorite chocolate sheet cake with traditional birthday candles..... I was secretly dreaming of having a reason to order one of these....

monogram, bunting, bow, love birds, flowers, personalized

...... it seems the creative types have been "baking up a batch" of delightfully "sweet" cake toppers recently..... as if I needed an extra reason to love a cake. :)

Art: Recently.......

....... I've been falling for abstract paintings

I have the lofty goal of painting one for myself one day (I know.... don't laugh!)....
 but until then I'd love to start a collection of smaller pieces like this one entitled "Sugar" by Kerry Steele....

Change of Address......

We received some wonderful going away gifts from friends before our journey..... a guest book for visitors, a framed vintage map of Switzerland, a sheet of monogrammed decals to use in our new home, a jar of seashells from the States, wine tags featuring local landmarks from our hometown, a travel journal, books..... I was amazed at the creativity and thoughtfulness of each one.

One of my favorite housewarming gifts to give is a self-inking home address stamp.  I love the personalization it affords and its immediate usefulness.  Above are a few of my recent favorites available on Etsy....... would make a charming wedding shower gift too!

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Fashion Replay: The Wrap Skirt

Along with seersucker, skirts are a staple in my wardrobe this time of year.  Summer dressing for me is all about ease, comfort....... and air flow (it gets really hot and humid in my neck of the woods)..... and just like that summer song inevitably revisiting me each year and reminding me of sweet summers gone by...... the wrap skirt never fails to disappoint.

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I'm a sucker.....

..... for seersucker.  No other fabric says summer to me quite like it.  A perennial favorite among many a Southern gentleman, politician or young prepster; I was surprised to discover it originated in India and was actually made popular in the U.S. by the working class due to its inexpensive and easy care qualities.  The word itself comes from the Persian words meaning "milk and sugar".....

well, pour some sugar on me........

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Is the Def Leppard song playing in your head?  Sorry!.... a little punchy today :)

You can find U.S. Senators donning seersucker  on Thursdays in the summer in an annual tradition begun by the Southern Senator Trent Lott from Mississippi back in 1996.

Have a great day everyone!

Wise Words: Audrey Hepburn

.......and while we are on the subject of icons..... I happened upon these beautifully printed quotes from Audrey Hepburn (available here)

my favorite is the one about the happiest girls being the prettiest girls..... I couldn't agree more!

I'll never think of this word the same way again.

I'm going to buy this and frame it for my girls' room.

....... a very inspiring and lovely woman inside and out...... like so many of you!

Have a great day!