And let’s talk about what I got for Christmas, and/or what’s still on my list.
(image from Amazon.com)
Orla Kiely mug. This mug makes my head spin with love. I felt really silly asking for a $17 ($13 plus $4 shipping) mug, but I really, really wanted it, so it made a perfect gift idea: something I wanted very much but would have had trouble buying for myself. Paul bought it for me. I’ve used it every single day since, I think, except for the few days after Christmas when I was still using my Christmas mugs before packing them away. It’s a smallish mug, 8 ounces.
(image from Amazon.com)
Sienna Sky fox earrings. When I went browsing for fox earrings, I was not expecting to find ones SO MUCH like my hopes.
(image from Amazon.com)
Texts from Jane Eyre. I saw this on Shelf Love, and immediately added it to my wish list. Paul was peeved because he’d already had this idea himself. Then it arrived and he remembered he’d ALREADY bought it, back when he had the idea. So my sister-in-law also got a copy of this book this year, from Paul.
(image from Kiva.org)
Kiva gift cards. I love these. And I love having more and more of them, because then the little bits that get paid back add up more quickly and I can make another loan sooner. The very first few times I made a loan, I was completely overwhelmed by the options: I kept determining I WOULD make a loan, then I’d browse loans for awhile and give up. Finally I decided that what I would have to do is browse the loans and try to choose almost impulsively, lending the money to the first person who appealed to me. I’ve mostly had success with that plan. It also helps to use the filtering options: I am just never ever going to want to make a loan to, for example, someone in the U.S. who wants to use it to pay for a wedding.
(image from https://www.etsy.com/shop/marmarModern)
MarMar Modern Reversible Enamel Earrings. So pretty.
(image from Amazon.com)
Jewel “Let It Snow” album. Her Joy Christmas album has been my favorite for years (I remember listening to it while wrapping presents in Elizabeth’s room when Elizabeth’s room still had a crib in it), so I’m interested to see if I’ll like this one as much.
(image from Amazon.com)
Bloom County: The Complete Library. I have a ton of paperback Bloom County books, but the collections are frustrating: a lot of duplication and omissions. After hearing me complain about this, Paul bought me the first hardcover volume of the complete collection for Valentine’s Day, and the second one for my birthday. I want the third volume, and after that I’m not sure: I liked earlier Bloom County better than later Bloom County.
(image from https://www.etsy.com/shop/LyndseyGreen)
Lyndsey Green fox tote bag. This shop has a ton of cute wildlife stuff, if you are into foxes or bunnies or wolves or badgers or porcupines or owls or bears or binturongs or etc.
(image from RiflePaperCo.com)
I’ve tapered off some on my Postcrossing hobby, but I always get re-interested at Christmas when I can send holiday postcards with holiday stamps. I found these Rifle Paper Co. ones on clearance in a gift shop last year, and sent them out this year. I also had We Wish You a Crazy Christmas and Animals at Christmas.
(image from Topatoco.com)
Dinosaur Comics books. The book versions of this comic, which I love.
(image from Sees.com)
See’s chocolates. So yummy. In the cold weather See’s sometimes does a shipping deal: $5 flat-rate shipping or free on orders of $55 or more. They’re doing one of those deals right now and I am expecting a box THIS VERY DAY.
(image from Amazon.com)
So fun! Niall’s sisters and mom all like the Orla Kiley things so I’m filing the mug away for possible future gifting.
Swistle, please tell me you read the-toast.net! I am guessing you do, since you wanted Texts from Jane Eyre. Its one of favorite places on the webs. And why do I also love foxes so much recently? Love the tote. My kiddos all have fox jammies that are the cutest!
I asked for a Merimekko mug for Christmas last year (very close in style to the oral kiely mug, as it turns out) and it is a continual source of joy in my life. This year I asked for a Merimekko umbrella and it is having a similar effect on me (except I wish it rained a little more often). I have never heard of Orla Kiely, so thanks for that, too!
I asked for a Merimekko mug for Christmas last year (very close in style to the orla kiely mug, as it turns out) and it is a continual source of joy in my life. This year I asked for a Merimekko umbrella and it is having a similar effect on me (except I wish it rained a little more often). I have never heard of Orla Kiely, so thanks for that, too!
This just reminded me that I have a See’s gift card sitting in a drawer. I’ve been waiting for an excuse to buy a gift for someone, but I’m pretty sure that someone is ME. A full box of my favorites!
Oh, I was hoping you would do this post and you did! It kind of reminds me of the calendar posts you used to do. (Or did I just miss this year’s? I’ve kind of been in a fog the last few months, so that’s entirely possible).
Also, I would really like to curl up with a box from See’s and something warm and delicious in a perfect mug right about now. I have a birthday coming up. I may just need to put an afternoon with a movie, a mug of something delightful, and a box from See’s on my mental wish list.
hmm…I don’t know what the heck is happening with my gravatar image. But it’s definitely not the one from my blog. Oh well, I guess I’m incognito
Yes, you missed it! Here it is: https://www.swistle.com/2014/12/10/annual-calendar-post-2015-edition/
Thanks for this! I love the MarMar earrings soo much.
The company I work for is currently running a big program with Kiva, where they give credits to employees to make loans, and it is the first time I have ever really felt company pride. To overcome the feeling of being overwhelmed by choice, I picked a category that appealed to me (lending money to women to buy sewing machines) and then, as you suggest, picked the first one that sounded good. I’ve also been trying to spread my loans around to different countries.
Those fox earrings are just wonderful! And your mug has made me want hot chocolate, so I suppose that means it’s a good mug.
1) I have seen that exact design on wallpaper lining a mudroom on Pinterest! I didn’t realize Orla Keily made other stuff or was any kind of big name until I saw your mug!
2) I love Bloom County, and fully agree the earlier ones were the best!
3) Love the sneaks!
(Everything I say here seems to require an exclamation point!)
OMG, Bloom County! Takes me right back to the dimly-lit hallway where my locker was in high school, where we would sit with our backs against the wall and read the books my friend stole from her brother. Love the book story – that kind of thing doesn’t happen with my husband, but I have amazing book-gifting-synchronicity with my brother-in-law (his brother). It’s weird, but neat.