Santa's on his way!

Hello there! I'm back! I can't believe it has been so long since I posted last. Sorry to have been so out of touch! It seems I've had a million things going on between shopping for gifts and meeting (early) deadlines. And I've had a million things swirling around in my head, some that I wanted to post and some I didn't. Ha! But here we are and its already Christmas Eve! I can't believe it.

Except I can because last night my dad and I did our annual "tradition" of last-minute shopping. He always waits until the very last minute to go out and pick up some gifts for my mom. He is not the best when it comes to picking presents, especially clothes, and he hates battling crowds so he puts it off-- but there were still plenty of people out and about yesterday.

We started our evening excursion with dinner at a local Mexican restaurant we love, because you can't shop effectively on an empty stomach, right? Then we headed over to a place I can't disclose since my mother reads this blog. (Hi, mom!) After about an hour or so we had our hands full and I think we got some really nice stuff. Guess we'll see how she likes it tomorrow!

In my second to last post, I mentioned that I was finishing up my Christmas wish list for my mom and that I'd post a snippet here... is it still too late to share? Nah. My list was primarily made up of clothes, even more so than in past years. But there's some beauty products and a bag thrown in for good measure. Take a look: (as usual, click image to see it larger!)

Anthropologie

Diaphanous Tunic (can't find the link!), Manisa Dress, Cabin Fever Tunic and Grecian Top

Urban Outfitters

Kimchi Blue Ruffle Tiered Skirt and Sheer Hearts Tights

Victoria's Secret

Button-up wool trenchcoat and Pleated tunic in plaid voile 

Beauty

Daisy by Marc Jacobs (my absolute fave scent!), VS Makeup Heidi Klum Eyeshadow Palette in Exotic Jewels and Parisienne by YSL.

and the Bag (a girl can dream, right?)

Coach op art chainlink Audrey (part of the Madison collection)

And, of course, I included several items from my Ruche wish list as well.

As for what I am giving others, I went the handmade route this year. Well, the buying handmade route, not the making handmade route. Since I have developed a love affair with Etsy over the past year, I made a little pledge to myself to try to buy as much handmade as possible this Christmas. And I have to say I was pretty successful! I'd say more than half of the gifts I bought were handmade.

I can't give too many details, but I can say that I bought some necklaces from Elephantine, sachets from Jewelweeds and  Cicada Studio, scarves and a desktop calendar from Michelle Brusegaard, a polaroid calendar from lifelovepaper, a hand-stamped silver and copper name necklace (for the boy's 7-year-old niece!) from The Two Beans, and beautiful pottery items from Miss Pottery, Mud Hutt and Utile Mud.

Now, finding something for the men in my life, that was the hard part. Etsy does have some great options but it still proved difficult. But I did pick up some lovely smelling beer soap from The Beer Soap Co. and personalized iPhone/iPod sleeves from in blue that I think the recipients will really enjoy.

And talk about last minute shopping, I still have to get something for my ever-so-hard to shop for brother! He just might get another video game.

So now I must run. To finish shopping, do TONS of wrapping, pick up my paycheck (yay!), go out to the cemetery to lay flowers and then get ready to spend Christmas Eve at the boy's sister's house. Tomorrow we will be spending time with my family, enjoying a prime rib dinner (which is a change of pace from the usual Thanksgiving repeat!).

I'd love to hear how you are spending Christmas, but wherever you are and whatever you are doing, I hope you are feeling the joy of the holiday... and that you are well fed!

Cheers!

xo,