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MERRRY CHRISTMASSSSS!

I didn’t post any Christmas wants before today because I didn’t want to give people a list of stuff to get me. I like getting clever things from people because they know me well (or follow my pinboard that’s essentially a list of things I MUST HAVE).

While you’re opening your gifts, enjoying some fudge and maybe some spiked nog, here’s my list of things that I hope I got and if I didn’t, I’ll probably be purchasing with my tax refund (tax Christmas!). I was going to do 25 things, but that’s a LOT of stuff to ask for … and I’m not really that needy. And 20 things makes me seem soo much less greedy … … … yeah.

1. Pyrex glass storage containers 12 piece set
   I’ve been trying to replace my crappy tupperware with good stuff and the plastic stuff is actually apparently bad for you. This would be a great replacement.
   
2. 28 oz. Sundesa Blenderbottle with Blenderball (in pink of course)
   I’ve been doing protein shakes in the morning because it’s easy, fast and the protein shot seems to help with soreness from the workout the evening before. And it is impossible to get the protein powder mixed in decently. I feel like I’m throwing a few bucks down the drain when I rinse out my post-breakfast cup.
   
3. 16 oz. Kleen Kanteen Widemouth Insulated Bottle
   I love my giant water bottle that I already own — I lug it everywhere. I want the same capability for hot water for tea.
   
4. While we’re on the subject of tea, how about a sidekick mug? I leave my teabags in my mug and reuse until the tea is really weak, but this would be a nice alternative to a grossly wet bag the next morning.
   
5. And in case you didn’t know (or assume), I pack my lunch every day. I’d love to have this picnic box to separate my foods into different portions and make sure they don’t touch each other (yes I’m still one of THOSE people).
   
6. Homemade Limoncello. Enough said.
   
7. Equal Exchange Organic Spicy Hot Cocoa mix. Just so you know, this comes in 6 packs of 12 oz packages, which should last me a week or two …
   
8. UnderArmour Fierce Tight (in purple or pink and MD). I’m picking these up today if I didn’t open them up. I ripped holes in both my other pairs by falling on my butt in the past few years and am in need of some new (and FIERCE) tights.
   
9. Kangaroo Water Bottle … guys, it has a POUCH. Convenient.
   
10. HVLO Sport Headphones (in light blue). These are pretty much the best idea EVER for running. No more poking at my headphones for 6 miles.
    
11. OGorgeous Crazy Zips Gym Bag. Because I’m tired of hauling around my UO duffle that’s larger than me. And because it would be super ultra convenient to take my yoga mat places. Also, because it looks super cute.
    
12. Cute Chicago Bears gear. I’m going to the Vikes/Bears game in MN on New Year’s Day, and I need some team gear to sport.
    
    
13. A turntable. One that mounts on the wall would be cool. Gotta have something to play those MJ records with.
    
14. OPI Hot Pink Matte Nail Polish. Obviously.
    
15. A cute and cozy nightie.
    
16. Urban Decay Eyeshadow Transforming Potion. This is the most amazing product ever. Turns any eyeshadow (or powder) into eyeliner that stays put. I’m almost out.
    
17. Pixi Tint and Conceal. This is the most time-saving product I have ever found. In fact, if I’m planning to workout after work (usually), I just use this in place of my BareMinerals. No use wasting super expensive awesome makeup when this does the trick for my face on work days. I’m also almost out (concealer at least). This was the best $30 I ever spent on any makeup product.
    
18. Wacom Bamboo Pen and Touch tablet. This would make pretty much everything I design go faster.
    
19. Loved ring (in white gold). This warrants 2 photos for its cuteness … front AND back. I only wish that it said “loved” instead of “Loved”.
     
20. Finally … while I’m on the subject of jewelry, I found this lovely ring that goes really nicely with the white jade ring I wear every day.
    

Anyway, I’m done pondering what I was wanting because I’m sure what I got is just as nice if not nicer! I’m really banking on those schnazzzzzzy running tights though in hopes that I can have a super awesome Christmas run.

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My mom requested that I make an apron for my niece. I found this really basic tutorial and adjusted it to make it reversible and to fit my niece.

I like how it turned out, especially now that I walked away from it for a while. There are a few mistakes, but she’s 3, so she won’t notice.

I especially love the fabric that I used for the top part. It’s perfect for an apron! I’m glad she’s little so I could stash a scrap of the fat quarter back for later.

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photo circa 1995

My sister and me doing our best Beavis and Butthead impressions in front of my grandparents’ fireplace. Of which, I’m sure they are extremely proud. Notice my sister is so not doing the metal hand right.

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I must admit. I’ve been entirely too busy watching Seasons 1-2 of Buffy to blog.

I kid. I kid. But seriously. I may have been doing that.

Regardless, I have been extremely busy making everybody’s Christmas gifts. I will blog about all of them after I’ve gifted them (obviously — don’t want to spoil the surprise!).  I made the vow to make everybody’s gifts this year. And I have. Except for a couple for hard-to-craft-for people.

I’ve also been really busy at work with all our last-minute preparations to take SEVEN WHOLE WORK DAYS off. Yes. That’s right. The university is closed for SEVEN DAYS. Not seven regular days. But SEVEN BUSINESS DAYS. Rock. On. And for once, I had all my ducks in a row and didn’t have to bring anything home over break. And by that I mean that all of my amazing clients were more than amazing this year and got us everything we needed in time for us to get things done.

Anyway, I did take the time to dress up my doggie in his holiday sweater in front of the tree. So Merry Christmas from a very annoyed little dachshund. (who is extremely cute in his sweater).

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WARNING: making a gingerbread house may sound like fun. IT IS NOT.

My beau somehow talked me into making a gingerbread house with him — although, he still claims it was MY idea. We spent the better part of last Sunday making this monstrosity from baking to assembling, to frosting.

Did I mention he’s an engineer and I’m a designer? So this house was going to be a really cool house. Or so the plans laid it out that way.

He didn’t want just a plain house — it had to have an addition.  I also wanted to go gung ho and do all sorts of cool piping, but that didn’t happen as I was exhausted by the time we got the damn thing to hold together.

Also — if you bake things, they change form. Something I didn’t think about going into this.

Regardless, here is our house. And I’ve got a template for the pieces here for you for FREE. If you dare.

The backside of our house was kind of sad-looking.

The side of the house refused to stay put. It collapsed 3-4 times before I finally just put a bunch of empty bottles around it to hold it up.

And here is the side. Kind of cute, but frustrating!

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Don’t worry — she’s 2. She’s not going to read my blog. If she does, then I’m more than proud of her.

I had cut up my prom dress from my senior year of high school a couple months back for my birthday party, but had failed pretty miserably. So I had a TON of tulle lying around. And what could I do with tulle? Make my niece into a little fairy princess for Christmas.

This was my original dress, BTW. I don’t have a photo of the monstrosity that it turned into, unfortunately (well fortunately for me).

I found a great tutorial on instructables and went to work. Here’s what I came up with. I think I need to put together a few more things and give her the whole fairy princess package.

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I realized I’ve not blogged lately.  Which is weird. But I have been SUPER busy.

1. I’ve been crafting up Christmas presents — for my friends and for those who’ve purchased crafty items from my etsy store for the holidays.  I’ve been spending the past several days filling a pretty large order of tattoo mugs that I’ve had for a while.  And I’ve got another oversized mug to finish and some other items.
   
2. I was in a (minor) car accident in early November, and I’ve been fighting with insurance and the officer who DIDN’T WRITE A POLICE REPORT for the accident to get my car back. My car was a 2-day fix, so it was really frustrating. I drove 3 different vehicles last month. The loaner car from Toyota — which they gave me for a gracious 18 days before telling me that they were going to have to report it stolen if I didn’t return it — even though my car wasn’t fixed; my grandpa’s truck — ironically, the same make and model that ran me off the road in the first place; and a fabulous Hyundai Elantra with XM radio — the rental car I finally got for a week when I received the other guy’s insurance. WEE. However, I did discover Beyond Bollywood, an incredible XM radio station.
3. I’ve also been working out a lot more — adding in an hour after work like I used to. Trying to fit back into my pants. Getting there. But the holidays are approaching.
4. OH, and this doesn’t have anything to do with why I haven’t blogged lately, but I want to share!  I got a lovely Boheme hand-knit chunky cowl from Hey Jen Renee.
   

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Hello bloglings!

I realized that I forgot to advertise EVERYWHERE and not just on my etsy that my deadline for Christmas commissions was September 30th. I made that policy in 2009 as I received entirely too many commission requests in November the year before.

I will be sure to advertise this a LOT more blatantly next year so you can get your requests in earlier.

Unfortunately, I cannot take any commission requests for Christmas at this point.

However, I will still be taking requests for commissions that are due after Christmas. And a VERY SMALL handful that are due between now and Christmas.

I hope this doesn’t make me sound like a jerk — but I just can’t do EVERYTHING. Crafting is not my full-time job, so unfortunately I have a limited amount of time to devote to it.

ALSO —

How do you go about getting a commission in the first place? WELL, just ask. You can e-mail me, facebook me, tweet at me, convo me on etsy or comment here on the blog.  Once I have enough details, I will create a custom listing for you on etsy.

Work will begin on your piece once you’ve completed the transaction on Etsy.  Some people do commissioned work the other way around — produce the item, then have the customer pay for it.  I’ve had too many people back out on a request once I’ve created the item or items, so to alleviate that problem, I’ve asked for payment up front. Since I have a limited amount of time to create things, this is the best policy.  Of course, there will always be special cases, but for most commisions, payment is required up front.

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I made this quilt out of two tops I had lying around for my niece for Christmas. I had planned a cuter quilt, but I didn’t have the money to get it professionally quilted, so I put two of my tops together and qulited this blanket with wavy stitching. The stitching is pink on one side and yellow on the other.

AND surprisingly, she loved it. She’s one.  I figured she wouldn’t care, but she picked out all the patterns and she wrapped her dolly up in it. Super cute!

Here are some photos and of course, action shots!

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My friend Molly had her annual Christmas party this year and I was lucky enough to be invited to the festivities. Molly makes the most awesome food and it’s always fun to get together with these girls — usually full-on crazy.

I was really excited to go because I finally got to introduce my fabulous beau to all my friends. Granted, he’s met most of them before — just not in boyfriend context.  We’ve been good friends for years so our circles have overlapped already a bit anyway.

Anywho — I made a giant spinach/spring mix salad and an awesome Better than Robert Redford cake. (yes, robert redford — because of the mixed bag that reads my blog!)

It was a fun time. We had a lot of wine and a lot of good food. Lots of good conversation and fun times with friends!

Here’s a few photos from the event … I’m hoping I captured the crazy as well as the cuteness of all the adorable people there! (I can haz cute friends?!)

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