It's Boxing Day

Have a smashing time! 

Boxing Day Hunt
Source: Flickr

Thanks for perusing; I'll be back soon.
tIO x

Presents Possible: 2011

I am posting this two days before Christmas again this year precisely because I am an optimist. So there.

That's correct; 'Tatler'. $104/year

My favorite WA film. $20 via amazon

Not yet available in the US. Waiting in the gift closet.

Cath Kidston Oilcloth Cross body. $75 at cathkidstonusa.com

This one's been on the wish list for several years. It's time, Santa.

Perennial favorite. $40 at kiehls.com

Now hurry down the chimney, Santa Baby.

Hope you all have a lovely Christmas.
tIO x

Checking it Twice

To be honest, I've already received my Christmas gift this year: a Kindle. I love it. Truly. But that doesn't prohibit me making a list. *grins widely* And so, in no particular order of preference, I present the 2010 list of 'Presents Possible':

Jigsaw 'Butter Leather Trench'

Sterling gemstone band by JujuBySarah on Etsy
With citrine and peridot, please.

Biscuiteers Book of Iced Biscuits

And perhaps some Christmas biscuits from Biscuiteers as well.

(Thought I'd throw this in for good measure:
I'm still searching for a leather sectional Chesterfield - fyi. Red leather, please.)

Hallmark ornament: 1940 Ford pickup

Blerg.

I've tried to not love it. But I do.

Adore her. (And I may have already purchased this.)

Sing it with me...

This should surprise no one; I ask for it every year.

Vintage NARS: 'Full Metal Jacket'

So, Mr C, aka darling husband... If you are so inclined, I will be most grateful. And thank you again for my wonderful Kindle. xx

Happy Christmas, dear blogfriends.   tIO x

The Advent Book

As you might have guessed from this post, we celebrate Advent. I love looking for a new Advent calendar each year and may, in fact, have several waiting in the wings for future use or to give to friends. But our favorite way to observe Advent is with this wonderful book:

The authors, Jack and Kathy Stockman, have created a gorgeous way to celebrate the Christmas story. Truly appropriate for the coffee-table, 'the Advent Book' contains original illustrations by Jack and features 25 doors which open to reveal a picture and segment of the Christmas story. It's told chronologically, beginning with Gabriel's revelation to Mary and ending with Jesus' birth. 'The Advent Book' has become a tradition in our house with our boys taking turns reading even and odd pages. (Amazingly, they seem to remember from year-to-year who read which pages last year and switch accordingly.)

  

 

Some screencaps from the Advent Book site

If you are interested in ordering, click through here to shop the Stockmans 'Celebrations and Traditions' site.

Hope you have a happy, healthy holiday season - and enjoy this 'most wonderful time of the year!'

Thanks for perusing; blog you again soon!  tIO x

PS: If you do buy the book and have little ones, I suggest playing the 'hidden animal hunt'. On each page, Jack has 'hidden' an animal - some easy to spot, others not so.

Waiting Patiently

Patience is something I have been advised never to pray for. (And that suggestion comes from someone who also never uses the word 'never' or ends a sentence with a preposition.) Alas, some of us are not naturally inclined toward it and therefore have to either pray for patience or acquire it through osmosis.

I prefer to 'practice' patience. Currently, I am practicing with this:

It arrived in my mailbox today. However, I am waiting until the day after Thanksgiving, aka 11 more days, to plaster it to the glass side door. Of course, I then will practice additional patience, aka 5 days after that, to begin hanging the 'ornaments'. *sighs*

Wherever did I find such a clever thing? The lovely ladies of Willow Creek Signs created it! After 'Wonderful Graffiti' - my online, go-to wall decal shop - closed earlier this year, I'd been looking for its replacement. Unsurprisingly, I ventured onto Etsy. As ever, I am glad I did.

For this 'Advent Calendar' design, they offer four styles of trees:

And for all of their wall decals, they have literally dozens of colors from which to choose! I do like choices.

Oh, look!  *checks clock*  It's Tuesday already! 10 more days...

Thanks for perusing this blog; blog you again soon!   tIO x

More designs from Willow Creek Signs:

   

Boxing Day

Off to the hunt and a day filled with family and friends; back soon.   tIO x

Peace on Earth, Good Will to Men

                          I heard the bells on Christmas Day
                              Their old, familiar carols play,
                                   And wild and sweet
                                    The words repeat

                        Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

                      And thought how, as the day had come,
                             The belfries of all Christendom
                                      Had rolled along
                                    The unbroken song
                       Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

                            Till ringing, singing on its way,

                      The world revolved from night to day,
                                     A voice, a chime,
                                      A chant sublime
                       Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

                      Then from each black, accursed mouth
                         The cannon thundered in the South,
                                   And with the sound
                                  The carols drowned
                        Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

                          It was as if an earthquake rent
                        The hearth-stones of a continent,
                                   And made forlorn
                                The households born
                       Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

                         And in despair I bowed my head;
                       "There is no peace on earth," I said;
                                 "For hate is strong,
                                And mocks the song
                       Of peace on earth, good-will to men!"

                   Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
                       "God is not dead, nor doth He sleep;
                                The Wrong shall fail,
                                  The Right prevail,
                     With peace on earth, good-will to men."

                           Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

                             Happy Christmas from tIO x

Mid-week Music: Merry Christmas, Charlie Brown! 'Linus' monologue'

Technically not 'music', but worth repeating:



Happy Christmas!  tIO x

Banner Day! with meringuedesigns

It's the Monday before Christmas, and it's a 'banner day'! Let's celebrate with the wonderful Etsy shop, Meringue Designs.



Cynthia Winward is a SAM of three who " found (her) passion in life" through sewing. When she left finance to raise her children, she also reunited with her serger and that's when things came together. Literally! Drapes, quilts, jackets and clothes for the children and for herself. And now she creates pillows, embroidery, patterns, and - of course - celebration banners like this one:

The best thing about this banner, though, is that it's for sale as a pattern - an "entire alphabet in mirror image...for uppercase and lowercase letters". It is a supplement to her 'Birthday Banner' pattern, which includes instructions for constructing the banner itself (also available in her shop). Wonderful, especially for those of us who like to 'make do and mend' - and create!

More loveliness from Meringue Designs:

  

Meringue Designs is a lovely shop and Cynthia writes an engaging blog, "Deep Thoughts by Cynthia". Reading through, Cynthia is not only "additcted to color", but this little tidbit caught my eye - and made me laugh-out-loud: "There is something ironic about being a seamstress and yet hating to sew costumes for my kids. I swear I can’t be bothered." I love that irony! And finding a terrific shop full of great fabrics, gorgeous pillows, and amazing banners - like Meringue Designs.

Time to wrap-it-up, lovelies! Here's to a great week - and a banner day!  tIO x

PS: Happy birthday, Tim!

Five days and counting...

The anticipation is ramping-up in our house.

Carols are the random song-of-choice, and daily we hear the exclamation: it's almost here! Indeed.

Our shopping might be finished, but the chore of keeping the presents hidden remains. We don't have snoopers, which is a good thing; but it is tiring.

And I end up having weird dreams about camels traipsing through the field and into our back garden.

Today's conundrum: Will the traditional 'Christmas pajamas' arrive this year? Or will we be left with a "ships after Christmas" promise?

Future conundrum: Is the idiom 'happy is as happy does' legitimate? Is it, in fact, an idiom?


Thanks for perusing this blog; blog you again soon! And happy Christmas, kringles!  tIO x

Pink. Peppermint. Christmas.

If it's pink, or a peppermint, or has to do with Christmas, I'm posting about it today. Hang on to your...

"HOT PINK HAT Vtg 60s Cloche' by vintageapparel


'beijo do Brasil fuchsia pink agate druzy ring' by BeijoFlor

'Tea for Two Earrings' by erinelizabeth

'Poppy Longstockings Candy STRIPE' by poppyswickedgarden

'Large Peppermint Twist Bath Puff' by rebeccajay

'Peppermint Love' giclee fine art print by karenfaulknerart

'Set of 3 Evergreen Festive Trees' by pinkbeeb0

'Vintage Plaid Men's Tie' by WhatGoesAroundShop

'Christmas Boxwood' by twoinspireyou

'Merry Christmas Banner' by TheBannerSisters


Happy Christmas, Crackers!  tIO x


PS: All of the above, or similar, were found on .