hello, sweets! yesterday we completed our 36 hour cross country drive back to california from north carolina (whew!). as we pulled up in our drive, i found myself thankful for our little homestead and intoxicated by the warmth of the sunshine and light breeze that filled the air. we miss our family deeply in north carolina, but for the time being, i couldn’t ask for a more glorious place to live.

as i begin the daunting task of unpacking from our trip, i can’t help but still be giddy over the Christmas gifts everyone gave us. unpacking them from our suitcase is just as fun as unwrapping them was the first time.

a majority of the gifts that we both gave and received this year were handmade (my favorite!), but today i wanted to share with you a few of my favorite non-handmade gifts that i both gave and received. i’ll photograph the handmade ones as i unpack them today and make room for them in their new home, and will hopefully share those with you tomorrow. until then, here are a few of my new favorite items!

1. my new pantone color books- sigh. i love them!

2. a new manduka sticky mat- hopefully this will help #7 of my 2012 goals.

3. my favorite bluetooth device (i had lost one several months ago, not sure how i survived without!).

4. i received this tea botanical glass drinking vessel. it’s double walled, perfect for either water or hot drinks. it even comes with a tea strainer so you can use loose leafed tea!

5. though i never thought i would, i love my new kindle! for traveling, nothing beats this light weight alternative to lugging my several reads around while traveling.

6. print and pattern 2- so much inspiration are held within these pages.

1. organic mi-bras with cell phone pockets for everyone!

2. everyone got a pair of hand painted earrings from eleanor joseph.

3. i gave david this tranquil forest coffee mug, (actually two of them, since he broke the first one the day he got it). we love drinking coffee out of ceramic mugs!

4. my sister got this NLT study bible- it’s my favorite version and the front of it is so pretty.

5. i gave my sister in law this handmade mail organizer, it arrived in perfect condition and makes her entry way so darling!

6. everyone got glass straws this year, and i made a little wool pouch for each of them. i’ve used mine several times now, and i love taking it out at restaurants!

what is your favorite gift from this year?

wrap up: {2011} {gift} {ideas}

got a do it yourselfer in the family? (don’t we all??) consider gifting them a pattern, crafting kit or do it yourself project!

row 1: book binding kit – $22 | feather earrings kit – $28 | crewel embroidery diy kit – $30

row 2: oh deer card kit – $10 | scarf knit pattern – $6 | needle felt fox kit – €15,00

row 3: droplets diy kit – $30 | jellyfish installation – $35 | messenger bag sewing pattern – $12.95

wrap up: {2011} {diy} {do it yourself} {gift} {gift guide} {ideas} {kit} {pattern}

today’s giveaway comes from twillypop where the lovely sara makes beautiful handmade ribbon necklaces and accessories. this giveaway is for three (count them, three!) ribbon necklaces that you can layer together or separate and give as gifts (or keep for yourself!).

here’s how you enter!

head on over to twillypop and pick out your three favorite genevieve ribbon necklaces (you may choose from these). come back here and comment letting us know which three you chose!

the nitty gritty:

giveaway ends tuesday, december 13th at midnight, pst. one winner will be drawn by a random number generator and announced here on wednesday. good luck!

pssst! don’t miss the other giveaways going on this week:

monday: enter to win this beautiful skirt! (ends 12/11/12)

tuesday: enter to win this chic antler deer pillow! (ends 12/12/12)

wrap up: {christmas} {genevieve necklace} {gift} {giveaway} {ideas} {ribbon} {twillypop}

image via bbc

 
The above photo of lemon curd, sweetly packaged in jars, inspired me to share with you my favorite lemon curd recipe. Homemade lemon curd is such a versatile gift – it can be used for baking – as filling in pastries and tarts, or topped onto cookies; it can be spread on toast or wafers, and eaten plain. Using just a few ingredients, you can have homemade lemon curd in about half an hour!

ingredients

4 lemons
1.5 cups sugar
1 stick (1/2 cup) of butter
4 eggs
pinch of salt

directions

Begin by zesting your lemons with a vegetable peeler rather than a grater. In a food processor, combine the zest and sugar, and process for three minutes. The mixture is ready when it’s as smooth as baby food.

Cut your lemons in half and squeeze them for a half cup of lemon juice. This was three lemon halves for me.

Transfer the lemon zest / sugar mix into a bowl, and cream in the butter. Use an electric mixer to combine well. Add the lemon juice, eggs, and salt. Mix well

In a saucepan, cook your lemon mixture on medium-low heat, stirring often. Heat the curd to 175 degrees F, which is the temperature needed for thickening. Once the mixture is sufficiently thick and the temperature has reached 175 degrees F, remove from heat and let cool.

Store the lemon curd in an air-tight container. Because it contains eggs and butter, make a note of when it was made if you are using it for gift giving. For long-term storage, you will want to use traditional canning methods. Your lemon curd is now ready for baking, gift-giving, or eating as-is!

Out to find ways to make life simpler, Ashley is tackling life one DIY project at a time. Learning as she goes, she also spends her days writing Indie Pretty Projects and creating for her Etsy shop.

wrap up: {ashley pahl} {gift} {homemade} {lemon curd} {lemons} {recipe}

every year i try to make the majority of my christmas gifts. there are really two reasons for this; the first is that i love to make things. i love everything about the process, from picking out a project-to-pouring myself into it-to-getting anxious about seeing the recipient open it. it’s just all good. the second reason is that it saves us money. christmas on a budget is tough, and when you can get crafty it can save you tons. i’ve been cataloging my favorite project ideas over on pinterest, and here are a few of my favorites. i still need more ideas though! do you have any crafty gift plans?

1. pretty poufs (discovered via itty bitty impact)
2. braided leather belt
3. drawstring bag (discovered via indie pretty projects)
4. tub teas (perfect for making your own tea)
5. handmade envelope tutorial
6. reversible journal covers

wrap up: {diy} {gift} {handmade} {holiday} {ideas} {make} {pretty} {projects}

 
you all know i’m a coffee drinker, but our latest addition has taken it up one giant notch. i gave david an espresso machine for christmas (gotta love gifts that give dual pleasure) and have been sippin’ on coffees, lattes, cappuccinos and little espressos ever since. though i have to admit that i feel badly for our since-put-away french press (i think i’ve watched toy story too many times), i’m receiving this caffeinated goodness with open arms. dave used to work at a coffee shop during college, so he knows all the tricks to making up super frothy and delicious drinks. my favorite so far? i think his specialty chocolate soy latte.

are you enjoying a gift so much, that you’re not sure how you lived without it?

wrap up: {coffee} {espresso} {gift} {latte} {machine}

red bird art; $7.50

smile printable; $7.00

eggs in a blue bowl; $5.00

brown owl; $7.00

home makes my heart oh so very happy; $5.00

peace love cupcakes; $5.00

last minute gift shopping? try these art printables for a quick fix!

wrap up: {downloadable} {gift} {last minute} {pdf} {printable}

 
#1: wish i could buy 100 sheets of this vintage paper

#2. circle circle dot dot! 100 kraft paper tags

#3. santa clause and stag deco tape? yes, please!

#4. i love this pretty kraft tissue paper, to go with the natural/woodsy theme

#5. does this candy cane gift bag resemble chevron?? i think so

#6. i’m using this tape bundle to wrap this year- as i still love bold contrasts

#7. i’ll wrap things up in red baker’s twine till i can’t wrap no more

#8. cute cute cute idea – sewing ruffled crepe trim

#9. so affordable and so easy to spruce up: brown kraft paper

this year, i’m wrapping with #1, 6, 7 & 9. plus, using these gift tags.
 

what are you wrapping with?

wrap up: {christmas} {gift} {paper} {supplies} {tags} {tissue} {twine} {wrapping}