Famous among dozens
New Year’s Eve Maggie (circa 2005), wishes you a very happy 2009. Little does she know what the morning has in store for her. Poor little Maggie. Come here, let me pet your hair. Stop whimpering, dear.
As for you, may your evening be memorable, and your morning a small price to pay.
For some reason, Christmas laid me out this year. Maybe it was because I was shopping for thousands of people. That could be it.
Anyway, by Christmas Eve, I was vibrating with the stress of all the fun things we didn’t get to, and right now I’m all achy and hunched just thinking about it. The smell of peppermint makes me feel violent.
Fortunately, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day turned out to be lovely and surprisingly laid back.
Also, a few weeks ago, I told Jordan that I had wanderlust, but a trip didn’t fit in our budget. She poked around online and found some ludicrously cheap tickets to Mexico, so we’re going there to visit the tequila.
We’ll sit around doing nothing, and then make a Margarita, and then do nothing some more. I can already tell 2009 and I are going to get along great.
Toys, originally uploaded by MaggieMason.
If you’re figuring out what to wear for New Year’s, or you just need a purse that isn’t the size of your torso, go have a look at the clutch roundup I just did for Target. Almost all of them are under $20, including the one pictured above, and they’re all pretty darn cute.
Last year, we were in Argentina for Christmas, and couldn’t find wrapping paper anywhere. I did searches on how to wrap with recycled materials, but most of the ideas I found were fugly. This year, I’ve been collecting some pretty, eco-friendly options:
1. Use vintage scarves, and trinkets in place of bows.
This is a gift I wrapped for a baby shower a while ago. It’s in a vintage silk scarf I got for a dollar at a garage sale. I tied it twice over the top of the box and used a pair of baby booties in place of a bow. It’s similar to the furoshiki concept.
2. Try a reusable wrap cloth.
This one is for sale at Rickrak, but you could also try making one of your own.
3. Make bows from recycled plastic bags.
This plastic bow is from Creature Comforts, and it’s made from a recycled Target plastic bag. Surprisingly cute, huh? Click through for directions.
4. Troll flea markets for containers and embellishments.
This photo is from Lil Fish Studios, it’s a simple kraft paper box embellished with an old velvet ribbon and a vintage belt buckle. When I’m at a garage sale, I look for cheap wooden boxes, ceramic powder boxes, or package embellishments that will make my gift seem extra thoughtful.
5. Make your own pretty boxes.
Check out Eco-Artware’s template for making cool pillow boxes out of old cereal boxes.
6. Forget tape.
This photo is an example from an entire article full of alternative giftwrap options over at Future Present. I like the look of packages sealed with utility clips or clothespins.
7. Dig through your donations box.
This gift is wrapped in scraps leftover from a Halloween costume. It’s part of another article on recycled wrapping over at Enviromom. I never considered using old T-shirts or clothing items to wrap.
8. Use old maps to wrap.
Some cute examples here and here.
9. Repurpose magazines.
This is a bow made of recycled magazines, which you can buy from BellyBuzz on Etsy. If you’re feeling crafty, you can make them yourself.
10. Use recycled paper for tags.
I like the idea of using recycled sheet music to make tags, like these from MissingMyCity’s photostream. You could use parts of old cards, maps, or stationery catalogues.
That’s it! Do you have any pretty ideas for wrapping with repurposed or recycled materials? Feel free to leave links in comments.
The Beckoning of Lovely is a brief video you might like. It’s about making things, and I found it on Andrea’s site. She always has the best links.
http://blip.tv/play/gew+4eRhkOIX
Momversation asked if Bryan wanted to be in a video to defend himself. Most of the footage is Jon Armstrong dancing shirtless in a bow tie, but there are a few clips of Bryan doing one-armed pushups too. Go see.
Just did a post for Target, where I found a few nice host gifts they offer for under $15. It’s over here. Go have a look.
These are my new colorful, handmade brooches from Elefante, e a Vida! I’m so smitten, I bought two. In fact, I’ve been keeping the shop a secret for fear that I’ll never be able to get hold of one again if I tell the Internet. But how many brooches do I need? (Thousands! Miiiiiillions! The Precious!)
I’m working on that hoarding instinct. Meanwhile, if you love them too, go get one.
I have not been taking good care of my body.
For four years or so, I’ve had crazy, hive-inducing allergies along with a few other health problems that I’ve been alternately complaining about and ignoring, hoping they’ll go away. Today, I sat down and made a big batch of appointments, because it’s time to figure everything out. I don’t know why I’ve been afraid to do this, but I have. Nothing life-threatening is going on, but my quality of life hasn’t been near as good as it could be, and it’s silly to go on accepting that.
So. What about you? Have you been putting yourself off? Today, as a favor, I would like you to take better care of yourself. Please think of one thing you can do to make your life a little better, and take the first step. Maybe it’s as small as taking a walk, or as big as going back to school, or getting screened for the cancer that runs in your family. Do it, and let the weight lift off you.
I’ll be over here, thinking good things for you.
Mighty Girl 