Things I Love Thursday {GIFT IDEAS} // 12.05.13

The holidays are upon us and Christmas is just around the corner.

For this weeks Things I Love, I thought I'd do a little "year-in-review" of some of my favorite things and categorize them for present ideas. Admittedly, these are female-focused… but you'll find a few things here for the fellas.

Stocking Stuffers

Thoughtful baubles | Latitude Necklace (Honor the place you wed, where your took your honeymoon, where you got engaged, etcetera.) Custom Brass State Ring (It's important to celebrate your roots.)

 

Make Up | Gimme Brow (I love this stuff! It subtly and effectively enhances brows, and adds some control), Elf Blush and Bronzer Duo (You cannot beat the $3 price tag. This is often available at Target. The blush and bronzer are close dupes for NARS Orgasm blush and Laguna bronzer.), Essie Polish in my (current) favorite shade.

 

One of my favorite annual gifts is an Anthropologie Mug | The GOLD are new this year and I'm keeping my fingers crossed that one will find its way into my stocking!

  

Hostess Gift 

(For all those holiday parties you're going to!)

Sea Salt Caramels

A bottle of wine wrapped in a dishtowel | I like this one, this one, and this one for the holidays.

A candle | And not just any candle… My absolute favorite candle is Volcano from Anthropologie. This scent comes in lots of sizes and styles. I cannot describe to you how much I love the way this smells.

Linen napkins | I'm dying over these ones from Mark & Graham

Anything from Copper Pot Traditions | I can personally recommend this one or this one. Delicious and wrapped so beautifully for gift-giving!

 

Under the Tree

A Coffee Table Book | Well-Read Women, Savage Beauty, or Every Day Counts

Leisurely Reading Literature | I love all my Penguin Classics because they are so beautifully bound and because they contain wonderful stories too: Wuthering Heights or Pride and Prejudice. Another favorite this year was the Newbery Medal recipient for 2013, The One and Only Ivan. (This is a very quick, very touching read.) Or anything by John Green but especially The Fault in Our Stars

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A gift card to Stitch Fix | It's just so much fun!
Egg Dish for baubles | Would be especially thoughtful if you also gifted a little bauble to put in it!

Another of my annual favorites is the Paper Source Wall Art Calendar | I love this style calendar. I've had the pleasure of receiving it for the past several years and it's never been a disappointment.

For the people on your list who have a tremendous capacity for tasteless humor, you cannot beat the deck game, Cards Against Humanity. | Be warned: This is seriously NOT a game for everyone--but can be the BEST game for the right one(s). The two reviews posted HERE will give you some indication.

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(Near) The Queen City | Crowders Mountain (Kings Pinnacle)

About one month ago, the family had a terrific adventure "hiking" around Crowders Mountain State Park just outside of Charlotte. We spent a great morning in nature but left MUCH of the park unexplored. Recently, I had the pleasure of returning to Crowders Mountain and conquering Kings Pinnacle with my friend Chantal. 

After checking in at the Visitor Center, we left under the impression that it would take about 40 minutes to reach the summit. Approximately 90 minutes later, we crested the bluff and were treated to a breathtaking (though mist-filled) view.

Of course, Chantal remembered to pack refreshments not limited to bottled water and granola.

Just as I set the self-timer on my camera and scrambled to my place, another hiker and his dog came over the edge and startled us. We startled him right back, when without skipping a beat, Chantal announced, "We just got engaged!" I wish the camera was facing the other direction to catch his reaction. It was priceless!

Cheers to the adventure!

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Home Transformation | Living Room

Before I get too busy showing you what's happening around here for the holidays, I suppose I ought to share with you how we transformed the living room from the butter yellow blah to the lighter, brighter gray.

 

Things have been a work-in-progress and I've been making adjustments, additions, and substitutions along the way. The rug and couches were the big decisions and once we settled on those, the rest of the room has been coming together pretty effortlessly. 

I was so excited when we found this vintage bar cart. The previous owners had painted it bright pink which was adorable--but didn't go with the living room. I also have big, crafty plans to replace the so sweet elephant print (that I ADORE--but again, it isn't quite right for the space). The Fiddle Leaf Fig is named, "Dennis Demitree Jones" and he is part of the family. That is, he will be for as long as he survives the overwatering he endured at the hands of our house sitter and the freeze he slept through recently on the back porch--where he was recovering from the overwatering. Good grief. For me, plants are harder to keep alive than animals!

The coffee table seemed perpetually messy and I never loved the set-up with this tray (above). I'm also addicted to coffee table books and found it hard to limit my pile to just a few. Because the size of the table is so significant, I decided to try bookends. I'm so happy with the way it turned out (below)! 

(You'll notice the little squirrel pillow I mentioned recently in a TILT post… I've replaced some of the bright spring/summer pillows with warmer, cozier ones for the season and the little squirrel pillow, in honor of my squirrely girlies, started it all.)

The mantle has been through many "versions." Its most recent variation includes an amazing cast iron deer bust. While the flowers, candles, and arrow will likely be replaced with stocking holders for the holidays, I think My Dear Deer will get a gold bow and fit in perfectly through December.

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TREASURY | Feathers

Turkey Day is behind us but I still have feathers on the brain.
Here's a treasury of delightful feathers of all kinds.

I found these little beauties at a boutique here in Charlotte ($12)!
(similar, similar, similar)

I had to have this Lunares Gold Athena Feather Tray for a touch of gold in the living room bookcase.(similar, similar)

I love this colorful wrapping paper! It's cool enough to frame.

Feathers Wrapping Paper

Check out this amazing DIY project from the Free People Blog for painting feathers. This would be a great rainy-day activity to enjoy with the kids. Attached to the end of a pen with some wound embroidery floss, the finished product would make sweet homemade gifts for them to give to their friends for the holidays.

Free People Blog & Tutorial

I found this great  feather candle at Tuesday Morning (another little feather-touch in my living room). 

I even picked up a second one to gift. Like most things at Tuesday Morning, if you don't snatch it up right away, odds are you're not going to come across it again. However, I did find the exact motif on a great little tray (below).

Loving this Feather Fly Bracelet. (similar, similar, similar)

Here's a simple (and terrific) idea: flower clippings, greenery, and feathers in a mason jar.

Sarah Scales Design Studio

In case you're still deciding whether or not you're into this whole "feather thing" with me, maybe try one on temporarily?

And of course, because I'm obsessed with feathers right now, I made several new sets of stationery featuring feathers and have listed them in the Etsy shop. 

These from below as well as this set, this one, this one, and these. And if you really love your recipient, you could choose THESE.

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