happy it is to receive

I received an early Christmas gift in the post.  My sister-in-law Julie, who knows what I will love even before I do, made and sent me the perfect pair of Noel earrings.

Aren't they absolutely divine?

Now I know Christmas is supposed to be about what you give.  Yes, yes, giving makes you feel warm and fuzzy inside.  But sometimes, just sometimes, when a person receives a gift, a token if you will, of such thoughtful significance that it perfectly embodies the love that the giver has for the recipient, it is awfully nice to be the person that gets to unwrap such a treasure.

You can see more of Julie's jewelry in her shop.

Merry Christmas Eve!

the gathering season

Well it's here. It's offically the gathering season. That special time of year when I start to gather up all the little gifts for the kid's advent calendar. Tis' the season that I love so much.  I'm constantly on the hunt for small, inexpensive tokens to fill each day in December.  Sometimes it's sweets. Other times I find little trinkets like a yo-yo or lip balm.

Every door in our advent calendar contains a little note. A cryptic messages as to where the children might find their treasure.

This year I am using my Girl's Loft kit to make each gift special.

Do you have an advent calendar in your family?  Here's some ideas of small gifts you can get to fill the days:

yo-yo

lip balm

stickers

cocoa mix

chocolate gold coins (gelt)

christmas socks

silly putty

ornaments

books

Cracker Jacks

Pez

movie tickets

character band-aids (my kids love these)

trading cards

gum

animal crackers

friendship bracelets

fun pencils

Hot Wheels

Crayola tub tints

bouncy ball

candy canes

bottled soda

kazoo

nightlight

sprinkles and cookie cutters

card game

craft kit

Christmas DVD

dreidel

marbles

gingerbread house kit

bubble bath

Check the dollar bins and Target and Michael's.  They always have a bunch of fun stuff. Also, coupons for ice cream go over well in our house.

You got some ideas? Let's hear them! Like I said before, I'm on the hunt.

I also used my Girl's Loft kit to create a paper Santa to stand sentry at the advent calendar.  We have some sneaky kids in this family.


The November kit is full of The Girls' Paperie "Tinsel & Twig" line.  If you buy a kit and you would like to make your own paper Santa, email me and I'll send you the pattern.