You May Be Thinking It... But I'm Going to Go Ahead and Say It

When I go Christmas shopping, I can't help but start making a little wish list of my own. Here are some things currently on my radar.

Gorillapod

I would loooove to have a Gorillapod. It's a flexible, malleable tripod. As in you-can-wrap-it-around-a-tree-branch flexible. How cool is that? And the price is right at $18 - $25 bucks.

Grey slouch boots

Digging these gray Steve Madden slouch boots (about $50). Gray is such a good neutral. Can't you just picture these with black leggings and a long sweater? Maybe even a lightweight, colorful scarf? Love. (I already ordered some in brown suede but would also love a grey pair to replace a pair of expensive ones I totally wore out. Am I bad?) My last pair was "faux suede" and lasted a long time, so I wouldn't be afraid to do manmade again.

Sturdy, leather bag that matches almost anything

This Tignanello Hobo (leather) is pretty budget friendly at $89 (via Zappos.com).

Coach has some fabulous bags. This is the "Kristen Leather Hobo Bag." The price is so over what I would spend on a bag that I can't even talk about it. But I do love the shape, the size and the color.

Kindle light

Love me the Kindle the hubs got me two years ago. Unfortunately, though, the mini maglite I've been using to light it after he goes to sleep finally kicked the bucket on me. This one is by Belkin (via Amazon.com) for $21.

Military-inspired jacket or blazer

I'm digging this one from OakNYC (out of my usual price range at $152 but it's really feminine, playful and rugged all at once. Would love to find one like this at a better price point).

This one is by Ambition and is $60 on Overstock.com. What I like about this one is that it could go easily with jeans, pleated shorts or slacks (and be work approp.).

A yummy fragrance

A girl sitting next to me at the movie theater was wearing this. After the movie, I HAD to ask her what she was wearing. Whether I seemed crazy or not, at least now I know the name of this fab scent. Amazing Grace by Philosophy. $40 for 2 ounces.

Tennis Shoes

These Reebok Rematch shoes are cute, and they happen to be on sale for $49 on the Tennis-Warehouse site. Hell, I've been playing tennis in generic athletic shoes for the past few months, so I wouldn't be picky about the brand.

Trash Can

Odd thing to have on my wish list, right? We have a cheap, blue Rubbermaid tall kitchen trash can and I can't wait for it to become trash itself. Loving this iTouchless 13-gallon Stainless Steel Automatic Trash Can (via Overstock.com for $59.99)

More Sneak Peaks of My Christmas Shopping: Etsy

For someone with a unique and fun sense of style and approach to life: owl luggage tags (tags by Wei's Open Secret -- he/she is out on vacation but should post some things in a few weeks)

For someone who may appreciate a few more fun and funky necklaces in her collection: a copper and bead costume necklace (check out other items in Rhubarb Incident's Etsy shop)

For someone with tremendous team spirit: a monogrammed koozie (check out Polka Dots and Pinstripes' shop here)

Etsy has tons of great gift ideas for anyone and everyone. For Father's Day this year, we bought cuff links from Etsy (post here). Fab Sugar has a great post up re: Etsy gift ideas. Check it out here.

Hurs: Fab Place for Jewelry and Accessories

I wish I could remember who originally pointed me to Hurs Wholesale Mart (5316 Buford Highway NE; Atlanta)... because I need to thank them.

Hurs is a megastore of jewelry (costume and sterling), brooches, hats, scarves, handbags and other fun accessories. While you have to peruse the aisles rather carefully to sort out the kitsch from the fashionable, Hurs is a place you shouldn't pass up. Their offerings are perfect for birthday treats, Christmas gifts, bridesmaid "thank yous"... and of course, beefing up your own accessories collection.

First off, almost everything in the just ITP store is under $10 (save the sterling jewelry, tiaras, scepters and oversized bags, which really aren't my thing anyway). And the variety is incredible! If your style is retro, funky, conservative, preppy, trendy, punk rock or whatever, this place has something for you.

Some photos from our visit (note: I took more photos of the funky items, but there were plenty of fashion-forward and conservative items, too).

One of the first things I spotted - a red, leather purse IDENTICAL to mine (except $18 less expensive).

Wall to wall costume jewelry and other goodies.

More.

Those bib necklaces that are all the rage (I think these were $10/each).

Awesome or sketch? You decide.

Hair accessories.

Felt hats: $20.

Yeah, I'm not sure either...

These necklaces have wacky grandma or freaky kindergarten teacher (or Julia?) written all over them.

All in all, I spent a grand total of $103 but came home with the following:

• Vintage-y looking brooch for my potential New Year's Eve outfit
• Two pairs of knit gloves (gifts)
• An owl pendant necklace (gift)
• Two knit headbands with fun knit flowers sewn on (one for me, one for a gift); I'll have to post an outfit wearing this later -- it's so fun!
• A jeweled evening bag/small purse (gift)
• Two scarves (gifts)
• Two white elephant gifts for a holiday party (guests of Ben and Becca's annual Ugly Sweater Party, watch out)
• A holly berry scarf to don for aforementioned holiday party
• A colorful costume necklace (gift)

Not bad, eh?

Now that you all know where you're going for your Atlanta costume jewelry and affordable fashion accessory needs, I know we can all sleep better tonight. :)

- Katy

Thank you, Miz Megan, for joining me for this field trip. I hope Mike likes his dapper gift.

For the Cooks on Your Holiday Shopping List

As you finish up shopping for the 2009 holiday season, I wanted to share some fun gift suggestions.

I always have a few cooks on my shopping list and am perplexed about what to buy them that they don't already have. Here are a few items I scooped up this year:

Chez Panisse Vegetables: this 368-page cookbook should be in any serious home cook's arsenal. This book was published in 1996 by Alice Waters and includes recipes from the famous Berkley, California, restaurant. I was introduced to the cookbook a few months back at my friend Kate's (we made the butternut squash risotto and it was TO DIE FOR). Pick up a copy for about $25 from Amazon.

Pan Scrapers: practical, affordable and perfect for stocking stuffers. These durable, plastic scrapers are safe on non-stick surfaces and will likely prevent lots of frustration and angst following baking, broiling and sauteing. I picked up colored ones (99 cents each) at the Decatur Ace Hardware (they have AWESOME gifts) but you can also find them on Amazon and on Organize.com.

Chop2Pot Cutting Board: another find from Intown Ace Hardware ($15). This cutting board lays flat while you chop and dice, then when you're ready to scrape your veggies into the pot, you squeeze the handle and let them roll right in. My description may not make sense, so hopefully the photo helps you get the idea. Chop2Pot cutting boards are also available on Amazon (though I hate that one review says the boards don't last long!).

Flying Biscuit Cookbook: perfect for your friend or family member who appreciates healthy and hearty breakfast cooking. Atlantans will especially appreciate the recipes, as the restaurant started here and has grown into a successful local chain ($12.95 on the Flying Biscuit Web site or at Intown Ace Hardware).

Fire Wire: How cool is this flexible, stainless steel grilling skewer? This gift is great for the occasional or hardcore griller. The skewer can be locked and loaded with veggies, meats and other deliciousness. One big perk is that the skewer's flexibility allows you to easily marinate in a plastic bag or bowl. I bought on Amazon for about $14 (set of 2) but these are also for sale at Intown Ace Hardware. Check out this Tailgating Ideas article on Fire Wire.

Utensil pot clip: another practical stocking stuffer. By clipping this handy thing to the edge of your pot, you can rest your spoon or spatula so that it drips back into the pot versus making a mess on your counter or cooktop. Available on the Vat19 site or at Intown Ace Hardware for about $7. (As an aside, Vat19 looks to have lots of nifty cooking gadgets with its motto of "Unique Gifts and Unusual Gift Ideas.")

Loving The Look for Less' Fab Holiday Finds Under $100

Still need to buy a few more holiday gifts for friends or family? Look into these great suggestions from The Look for Less (click to enlarge).

You really ought to check out The Look for Less' Fab Holiday Finds Under $100. I have done most of my holiday shopping but may have to snag a few of these great ideas for birthday gifts or for a few remaining friend gifts I need to get.

Etsy Rampage

Okay, to call it a "rampage" is a little dramatic... but I've been busy shopping on Etsy lately. If you haven't checked out Etsy's offerings, you are missing out big time. From jewelry to clothing to home goods and other one-of-a-kind, handcrafted pieces — Etsy has it all.

My shopping streak began with my hunt for father's day gifts. This year, I think that cufflinks would make a fun and interesting gift for both my dad and my stepfather.

For my dad, Scrabble cufflinks. I custom ordered W and B for his initials.

See the seller's store here. $13 plus shipping.

And for the camping-loving Tripp, compass cufflinks. $12 plus shipping.

See other items by this seller here.

Clearly I couldn't shop Etsy without doing a little looking for myself. Here's what I came out with:

Blue glass ring for $9 plus shipping. See the seller's designs here.

So fun! You. Must. Check. Out. Etsy.

Lunch Tote Christmas Gift

Now that I've gifted this, I can blog about it!

One of my favorite Christmas gifts I gifted this year was a cute little lunch tote bag. It's insulated, big enough to throw a few tupperware containers and a drink in — and comes in a few fun patterns. 

In addition to functionality, the tote is a fabulous gift for its price and its cause. The $9.95 price per bag includes shipping — and a whopping half of the price goes to Susan G. Komen for the Cure. How awesome is that?

This is probably bordering on ridiculous, but I'll say it anyway. You could also talk yourself into this being a "green gift" since your recipient won't have to throw away grocery bags or paper sacks each day.

Three totes pictured above are from the Lean Cuisine web site. 

I must admit that pink one is rather dreadful-looking.

Fabulous Candles in Decatur (and another good deal)

I heard another great tip from Jessica Shops Atlanta—the upscale candle company PaddyWax has an outlet in Decatur! 

An 8-ounce PaddyWax candle in a glass container, for example, will run you upwards of $20 or more on the PaddyWax web site or in a nice boutique. At the outlet, however, the same candles are priced around $8.00. The shop also offers tinned candles for traveling, gift sets and pillar candles of all sizes. 

While browsing through the outlet's merchandise, I couldn't help but pick up several candles for last-minute Christmas gifts. The eight candles I bought set me back $48. Not bad for really quality merchandise.

I complimented the shop as a woman rung up my order. I asked why the outlet was located in Decatur and how the prices were so much different than in retail stores. She responded saying the factory is in Decatur, attached to the outlet actually, and that she was a corporate employee. When I mentioned that I hadn't noticed the outlet store before even though I drive by almost weekly, she said that they don't really advertise and get most of their business through word of mouth.

One downside to this deal savvy place are its hours of operation. PaddyWax is open Monday through Friday 10am to 5pm and Saturday from 10am to 4pm and closed on Sundays.  Another is the strong mix of scents that hit your nostrils the moment you walk through the door. Like walking through the perfume section of Macy's, you may end up with a mild headache for the next half hour. 

235 Dekalb Industrial Wy
Decatur, GA 30030

(404) 378-7422

www.paddywax.com

The Handcrafted Christmas Tree Skirt Project

Courtney being silly with the freshly-gifted tree skirt 

(she was trying it on as a true skirt)

The office Christmas tree modeling the tree skirt 

before Courtney took it home

(click the photo to see a little more detail)

Each year my office does a Secret Santa gift swap. It's totally optional, as it's not assumed everyone feels equally excited about participating (especially because homemade gifts are encouraged and appreciated). Since I joined the agency in July, this Secret Santa office event was my first.

About a month ago, I drew the name of a talented designer/illustrator. While I don't think Courtney is high maintenance, I did realize that her background makes her more naturally inclined to scrutinize color, design, layouts, etc. I decided I would be brave and make a homemade tree skirt. I asked Dawn, our Traffic manager, what colors Courtney uses in her home. Knowing Courtney and her preferences rather well, she quickly responded with, "lots of blues and greys." She also validated my tree skirt idea.

About three weeks prior to Tuesday's swap, I took my eager little self to Hancock Fabrics to buy supplies.

Shopping list:

• 2.5 yards of navy blue felt
• 1.5 yards of grey felt (I found some discontinued fabric on sale)
• 1 spool of grey yarn
• 1 spool navy hand quilting thread*
• 1 packet silver glitter
• Assorted beads (silver, white, pearlescent) 
• 1 can spray glitter
• 1 tapestry needle
• 1 packet standard hand sewing needles*
• One small container of pins*

That night, I got to work cutting out the base of the tree skirt. I decided to not cut one but two large circles from the felt so that the skirt would be more durable. I planned to sew them together using the yarn and tapestry needle. 

Dan helped tremendously by developing a plan to cut out the perfect circles. We unfolded the fabric and decided on the diameter we wanted. Dan cut a string to be half the length of that diameter (which would be the radius) and plotted a point that would be the middle of the circle. We tied a sharpie to a screw driver using the string. I held the screw driver in the middle of the circle as Dan pulled the string to full tension and drew all the way around. Once I'd cut out that circle, I traced it and cut out the second circle. I can't remember off the top of my head but I would guess the circles' diameters were about four feet.

Once I aligned the circles on top of one another, I sewed around the edges using the grey yarn and the tapestry needle. 

I picked up the project a few days later. The next step was cutting out snow flakes. I folded various-sized squared of the grey felt "every which a way" and cut out little portions to make snowflakes of various shapes. The felt's thickness prevented me from doing really elaborate designs, but that was okay. 

I pinned the 11 snowflakes I'd made onto the circle, keeping in mind I would need to cut a slit through to the center for the tree. Sewing beads and sequins on the skirt was the most time consuming part of the project. On the days I worked on the project, I tried to tackle one or two full snowflakes. I not-so-systematically alternated beads with sequins. I grossly underestimated the time it would take to do the beading but was happy with the visual result. (Be warned that it took me anywhere from an hour and a half to two hours —maybe more — to bead each snowflake. But feel free to pass along suggestions as to how that could be more time efficient!) Unfortunately I don't have a photo that shows the beads in up-close detail. 

I cut through the tree skirt (effectively its radius) to the center and cut out a small circle in the center for the tree. I sewed up the slit and its fresh circle the same way I'd handled the circumference. 

Spraying the finished skirt with the can of glitter spray really made it come together and sparkle. 

I feel goofy admitting this, but it felt like the night before the first day of school or Christmas eve as I was falling asleep Monday night. No amount of coughing or my sore throat could keep me from being excited about the next day's festivities. I hoped Courtney would enjoy her gift — and I couldn't wait to see what others made or thoughtfully bought. 

Luckily, Courtney appreciated the gift and the thought that went into it. She also mentioned that she was thinking about making a tree skirt this coming weekend because she didn't have one. Good timing! 

Total cost: approximately $30 (but some of the cost was for supplies I'll use again)

Total time: an embarrassing 25 or so hours (whoops!)

* If you do any amount of craft projects, you likely already have these items at home.

 

Fan Gear for Folks on Your Christmas List

As we draw nearer to the Christmas holidays, I'm sure many of us have gift shopping on the brain. 

In my opinion, and it might be because I'm a girl, I think guys can be the tougher sex to shop for. I'm well aware I'm stereotyping, but what guy doesn't love some gear from his favorite team—college or professional? I think even some gals would be thrilled to receive a memento of her alma mater or favorite NFL team. 

Sports Huts is an awesome eBay vendor for fan gear. As I type, the store has more than 6500 items listed, ranging from lunch totes and pennants to plastic tumblers and table cloths. To give you an idea, I did a search for "Packers" within the store and found 112 items including night lights, aprons, shot glasses, soft coolers, license plate holders and window decals. I find the selection particularly helpful because local stores often carry few items beyond those of local teams.

I've picked up a few gift items from here (a Dallas Cowboys ornament for Dan and a Green Bay Packers one for my father) and have been satisfied with the shipping costs and shipping times. (The general eBay rule of thumb that shipping is cheaper when you combine items also applies to shopping with Sports Huts.)

Here are just a few items: 

(Car magnet: $13.78 plus shipping)

(Football helmet ornament: $4.99 plus shipping)

(Koozies: $6.64 plus shipping)