Start Of The Season

This is it!  The start of "the most wonderful time of year"!  I love it!

For me, it starts on Thanksgiving morning.  I have a tradition I love- I settle myself in front of the Macy's Parade and enjoy some goodies while writing Christmas cards.

I love Christmas cards.  I love everything about them- selecting them, writing them and receiving them.  I spend a lot of time each fall picking the design and photos.  I prefer to get a design from an etsy seller and then print them.

This year I used Natalie from Nattysuedesigns.  She has tons- pages upon pages- of designs!  I tend to like cards that a bit quirky with a modern design using fun wording and colors.  I also try to stay away from a motif that screams "Christmas" (for all our friends who don't celebrated).  She had many that fit my requirements, I had a hard time picking one.  Also Natalie was fast, friendly and so patient with my "tweaks" and requests for resizes.  If you are still card shopping check her out!

This year, for the first time, I'm doing postcards.  It is a bit more "green"- both economically and environmentally.  They should arrive today. I hope they turned out well.

Without further ado ....

Our 2011 Christmas Card

If you are expecting one in real life and don't want to ruin the surprise- stop reading now!

Happy Holiday Season! 

*this post was not sponsored in anyway.

Keep Calm and Move On?

etsy- of course

When the British World War II  "Keep Calm and Carry On" posters came out a few years ago they were a big hit.  Everyone loved them, etsy stores sold out of the posters.

Anyone who knows me will tell you that I stress- a lot, easily, and sometimes without much of a reason.  So I bought these-

One for school and one for my desk at home.

And my sweet friend Amigh bought me this- 

Funny story about that paperweight.  I keep it at school, one day last year I was getting annoyed at my computer and my student, (who has some pretty significant emotional and behavioral management issues himself) just held it up in front of me.  Cracked us both up.

You can now get that infamous slogan on anything from tote bags to band aids.

 

The market is also full of Keep Calm knock-offs, such as the "Keep Calm and Blog On" poster.  Have a career, passion, hobby, baby, or celebrate a holiday?  You can find one (or more) variations for you!

So what do you think?  Is the trend over?  Do you still love the saying- if you ever did? How do you feel about the knock-offs?  Most important, do you have either in your house?

A Problem With Etsy

You know of my love for Etsy.  I have a long wishlist of "make me smile" items, and often put Etsy items of bday or xmas list.....
One little problem, to buy something on Etsy you pay via Paypal. I have no problem with Paypal, BUT John refuses to use their service.  
Bottom line- I never get holiday gifts (or just because, or to make you smile surprise treats) off my Etsy list.
This is very disappointing, for poor little old me.


Please help me convince John to use Paypal (a.k.a Etsy)!  

Glittens

I'd like to share another terrific Etsy seller with you, DebzCreations.  I bought what is now one of my winter-must-haves from her, my glittens (also known as Convertible Fingerless Gloves Mittens). 
                   


Last winter I got a Blackberry smart phone, and quickly noticed that in order to work it needs contact heat from skin to work.  Not so easy, convenient or comfortable in the middle of winter. 
That lead to me the glitten, a mix of a mitten and glove, keeps your hand warm and fingers free to wiggle.  Deb was great; fast and good communication. The glittens are soft, warm, thick and well made.  I think she has a waiting list for her product, they are so popular. 

Etsy, sweet Etsy

I love Etsy for many reasons- fun, unique, reasonable prices, inspiration for my own projects, great procrastination tool, etc.  I know many of you share my feeling.  And, yet I'm still shocked that there are many people who don't know about Etsy.


I  do have a frustration with Etsy though- it is so overwhelming to search, especially when I have a specific item in mind. So, really enjoy and appreciate when bloggers post items/sellers they like. It has lead me to some cool, and useful, things off  (and go and forth between opening my own shop). I'm thinking it is time pay it forward. 


I posted about seller savoiefairephoto  here.  

I can't wait to order more.   I almost want to order one for our new house (fingers crossed), but we have last name issues. 

Trash

It’s a little nuts that I’m so happy about…getting pretty car trash receptacles.

Some explanation might be necessary…in my wonderful cute CRV I had a pretty little trash basket (thanks mom!), and floor space on which to place it. Well after the CRV was destroyed, I got an Explorer. There is no floor space in the Explorer for a trash basket. So for years I’ve had a bit of a waste issue disposal issue (especially since I eat breakfast in the car and on the long drive home to CT). Since John also has an Explorer, we have double the problem.

Well, a few weeks ago I found this great product. Ours landed on the front porch today.

Can you guess who’s is who’s?

And there was a cute thank you gift tucked inside!


I can’t wait to get them on the road.