TeresaB who said, “I just found your site through the City Farmgirls Blog. Fun fun!” Yes, it is fun! I think I like offering giveaways even more than winning (who’d of thunk it - I only wish everybody could win)! We had a peek at her etsy site here and she has some great ideas for your swiffer or sh-mop so be sure to take a look. Prepare yourselves for the next giveaway - it is going to be FANTASTIC and I’ll announce it tomorrow. Really. I-was-gonna-keep-this-one fantastic.

My friend, Alison, sent this to me today…what a great idea! Just one extra card this year for you but if everybody participated, our soldiers would feel a little more appreciated. Send a heartfelt note for Christmas today (it’s never too early for love and gratitude). Cards can be sent to:

Holiday Mail for Heroes
POB 5456
Capitol Heights, MD 27091

Please pass it on!

[Before you start thinking that I'm demeaning our soldiers with the above pic indicating it is "play" (uh, duh, we all know it is anything but)...the army man pic was taken by my boys while camping and I couldn't help but appreciate the symbolism.]

Well, three Christmas cards and a pig. He was just so cute I had to include him - I guess the pig is symbolic for the new year? Hmmmph. Learn something new every day. Anyway, they all look so easy and adorable and are by Robert Sabuda. You can check out his instructions and patterns here. My kids will love trying these this year but I won’t promise to get any actually mailed…

So we were running errands on Saturday and my sweet hubby suggested we stop by the knitting store since he knew I was hankering for a project (yes, hankering) but I didn’t know what. I needed something more advanced than scarves but I’m not ready for tiny-needle socks. Thank goodness for local yarn stores! The owner at Omaha’s String of Purls is so kind, she pointed me in the right direct — pun intended — and I picked up this book on knitting finger puppets! You can buy it here on Amazon for less than $14 (I paid $19 in the store but supporting my local yarn store is so worth it). This way, I can get used to size 1 needles - double pointed, no less - but only have to work with a few stitches instead of a whole sock. I began the Baby Monkey last night and it turned into a mouse since I was using gray yarn…a very bumpy mouse…I practiced french knots all over the body! Now that I have the techniques down, I’m going to give it another try!

Before we checked out, I saw another book lying on a table and remembered that I wanted to knit our Christmas stockings someday. I couldn’t resist this book, either. I haven’t started this one, yet - have to get the right size circular needles. Looking forward to it as well as another trip to the yarn shop (I just never seem to get there enough!).

The knit doughnuts are from Fawn & Forest. The knit elephant, leopard and zebra are from Polka Dot Patch. So cute and inspiring - great giveaways or wrapping accoutrements for Christmas!

Well, my anti-consumerism streak lasted about 10 minutes, that is, until I received this email from L.L. Bean. I’m still not whipping out the debit card just yet but this greenery does have me drooling. I know there’s nothing like the real thing but I’m thinkin’ it’s a good thing that I have some pretty faux greenery with white lights packed away that might quell the craving just a bit. I guess we’ll be putting up Christmas decor early this year… Plus, I’m thinking it might be the year for gingerbread creations. This igloo is adorable! All pics are from L.L. Bean so be sure to check out their site here.

Love the Human Fund card (yes, we’re Seinfeld rerun fans).  Some of the designs are fabulous.  Some of the designs are really not my taste. There’s a huge variety at Cafe Press - and it’s because this site allows you to sell your own cards, calendars and other items and prints on demand - fabulous.  It’s like nouveau Ebay or Etsy but for print!  Me likey!  Check the selection out here and click here if you’re interested in selling designs.  I especially enjoyed browsing the political bumper stickers - wow - eye openers!

I know, I know, it’s early for Christmas…but my fabulous artist friend Traci Osborn sent me this she has been working on and it’s beautiful! I wish I had her talent…but I know I don’t have the discipline necessary to get there. She even sent me the outlines I could have worked with on the computer to create something but, alas, I couldn’t have even envisioned it as well as this. Hope it puts you in the Christmas mood like it has for me. It’s coming up fast, you know.