here’s a little known fact about me.. i’m really an outdoor gal at heart.  i didn’t used to be- but then i met the hub, and he turned me on to the great outdoors!  he’s a professional cyclist and avid mountain biker and dabbles in just about everything else- fly fishing, kayaking, mountaineering- you name it.  i’m a little less hardcore- but have done my stint at mountain and road biking, and even a little kayaking.  i took advanced rock climbing in college- and *loved it-  i wish i could go more often. we also love to backpack.  in fact, we had planned to thru hike the appalachian trail (about a 5 month adventure) but as of yet- we’ve just been doing a few days of the trail here and there.  the thing i love the most is trail running.  we can go together and running on a trail is so much more scenic and fun then the pavement.  plus, it’s easier on the joints and all those roots keep your mind busy- so you can’t think about the pain!

what are you an enthusiast about?

row 1 :: fly fishing sign :: felt boots :: bucky deer trophy ::

row 2 :: tour of california-reggie messenger :: twisted aromatic cedar walking stick :: kayak ::

row 3 :: arches, utah ::  mountain biker :: sloper ::

row 4 :: burlap chalk bag :: paw protection dog boots :: snow plume ::

row 5 :: blue dog ready for a hike :: snowboarding over the mountains decal :: chunky girl pompom ::

wrap up: {biking} {christmas} {fishing} {gift} {holiday} {kayak} {outdoor}

don’t we all have a little bit of tech love inside of us? i love these gifts- they could be perfect stocking stuffers- or just right for that somebody.  my personal favorite is the dino usb (oddly enough- my hub would *love that- haha!).

row 1 :: bamboo iphone case :: pacman earrings :: dino flash ::
row 2 :: usb flash drive storage :: frosty the snowman :: zen hammock ::
row 3 :: i want to believe :: ctl – alt- del :: i heart robots ::
row 4 :: geek is the new cool :: robot notecard :: monster iphone cozy ::

wrap up: {geek} {gift guide} {holiday} {nerd} {stocking stuffer} {tech} {techonology}

bright. cheerful. snuggly. fun!

row 1 :: green and yellow seedling doll :: winter creatures :: handmade felt slippers ::

row 2 :: sock monkey :: red car window art :: reversible hero capes ::

row 3 :: farm murals :: daisy flapper beanie :: porcelain hedgehog ::

row 4 ::my children’s book :: firefighter giclee print :: snail backpack ::

row 5 :: my coloring book :: custom super hero mask :: papa smurf ::

wrap up: {children} {christmas} {gifts} {holiday} {holiday gift guide} {kids} {toys}

i *love vintage holiday greetings.  the sayings on them just make me fall deeper in love with the holidays.  nu vue studio offers affordable reproduction prints ($13 for 8 cards) which makes giving vintage holiday cards a little easier!

row 1 :: country scene row 2 :: over and over snowman and scottie

row 3 :: loaded down with a merry christmas row 4 :: fox terrier thank you

wrap up: {cards} {holiday} {thank you} {vintage}

today is all about the green thumbed friend or family member in your life.  one of these gardening items wrapped up with a new 2010 seed catalog would give them something to do for hours!  i love looking at seed catalogs in january- it gives me hope on those blistery cold winter days.

row 1 :: garden office supplies organic t-shirt ($22) ::   grow something ($15) :: flower brooch ($15) ::

row 2 :: cloche no. 1 ($58) :: herb tags for herb drying ($2.50) :: drops ($16) ::

row 3 :: ceramic owl planter ($32) :: april showers ($16) ::  vintage silverware garden marker ($22) ::

row 4 :: herb garden plant markers ($28) :: herbs ($3) :: mysterious mushroom puzzle ($42) ::

row 5 :: gardening pots print ($20) :: water your garden ($35) :: gardener’s soap ($5.75) ::

wrap up: {gardener} {gardening} {gift guide} {holiday} {homegrown} {plant} {seeds}

happy december!  i found this post over at scoutie girl this morning- and fell in love!  i try to come up with a different, cheap and hopefully eco friendly way to wrap gifts each year- and baker’s twine is going to be it this year!

present for jenny (flickr)

perfect for brown paper kraft.  also, our local newspaper printer gives the end of their rolls away b/c the get to0 small to use (though there’s still SO much on them!).  i used that last year- it’s just unprinted newspaper on a roll- it’s free and so easy to dress up!

faux bois tags (flickr)

swoon…

so where can you find this??

swann and smerlin (etsy supplier)

green apple divine twine

obviously, i’m in love!

wrap up: {baker's twine} {christmas} {gift wrapping} {handmade} {holiday} {holidays} {presents}

hi lovelies!  have any of you noticed my posts haven’t been ‘quite up to par’ lately?  just wanted to say i’m sorry.  we finally got internet at our new place last night- yay!  so for the past 2 weeks i’ve been using other people’s computers and going back and forth from the old house and new.  ugh.  what did we used to do without internet? let alone high speed? certainly not blog! anyways, thanks for hanging in there with me!

i’m really excited about today’s post.  after being totally inspired by decor8‘s calendar round up- i decided to bring you some of my favorites!  i haven’t exactly figured out why- but for some reason i’m really into calendars right now- i’ve been searching for one or two to doll up the house with.  so- here we go!

hang it stacked together or spread a part for extra wall coverage- so beautiful! deluxe wall calendar by susy jack – $34.

with pages hand drawn and numbered- this one totally wins my heart! galoshes pocket calendar by jen jewett- $13.

each month illustrates local and in season produce- which all coincide with recipes on her blog!  calendar by claudia g pearson- $24.

full of pictures taken in the midwest- homemade apple pie, sunflowers, quilts and vintage finds!  calendar snaps and crafts by cupcake studio- $15.

waiting patiently on this downtown series- with beautiful illustrations of city life.  downtown calendar by jen oaks ~$25.

love these whimsical messages: you soothe my soul, sail away with me, you are my shelter.  loose yourself in a daydream calendar by susannah tucker- $20.

eco friendly and oh so cute.  critter calendar by night owl paper goods -$24.

love the letterpress look and especially may’s nest. letterpress calendar by albertine press – $29.

buy this calendar and have 7 5×7 prints to frame at the end of the year! letterpress calendar by ink and wit- $42.

love this retro look with the different hues of paper. eco desk calendar by cat seto- $21.95.

looking to make a statement? this 16.5″ x 38″ calendar will do it! yearly planner by miriam bereson- $15.

perfect fit for right by your desk.  calendar by olive dear- $18.

wallet sized (2.5″ x 4″) this handy calendar can go with you.  mini deer series by ali design- $6.

no time to wait? print this calendar right at home! printable pdf by sweetbeets- $6.

pocket sized- accordion style for you desk- calendar by yael fran- $10.

i might be doing this again in the near future (hint hint) so if you have submissions or other favs please be sure to send them my way!

wrap up: {2010} {calendar} {holiday}

remember these velvet pumpkins?  well, i was so excited when i ran across these fabric pumpkins earlier this week over at design*sponge!

the lovely photographer danielle thompson of thompson-family blog and tiny bazaar (remember that great shop?) has posted wonderfully detailed instructions on how to make these gorgeous ever-lasting pumpkins!  click here for the tutorial!

you’ll never have to add these to your compost pile!  thanks for the great tutorial danielle!

wrap up: {diy} {fabric} {holiday} {pumpkins} {weekend}