what I love: Christmastime!

Great news everyone!

It's officially Christmastime! A Christmas Story is playing non-stop on TBS, and Mariah Carey's All I Want for Christmas is You is playing non-stop on my computer. That's right - it's Christmastime, and it's what I love this week.

photo credit: humor me

The thing about Christmas is it means more than the presents under the tree, more than the gift wrap or even the amazing tablescapes. It's the togetherness of it all. Whether it's with your new fiancee, your new husband or wife or your new in-laws, the time that we spend together is (get ready for the cheese) priceless. It's a time to enjoy the family you are and the family you will be. Those are moments you can't trade for anything in the world.

It's the warmest time of the year - even though it's the coldest weather, and there's a reason for that. Enjoy the holiday spirit, and don't forget to take a moment to love Christmastime too.

Merry Christmas everyone and happy new year!

photo credit: Etsy

what I love: gift wrapping!

The thing about gift wrapping is it isn't solely allocated to the holidays. One must gift wrap throughout the year (for weddings, birthdays, anniversaries - you name it!). That's the best part about learning how to gift wrap beautifully, you get to use the skill throughout the year.

After all, who can resist a little piece of beautiful like this?

photo credit: a gift wrapped life

The holidays are a time that one's gift wrapping skills are allowed to truly shine. It's all about those details - details, details, details! Besides that's where all the fun is! Take a look at some of these chic and adorable gift wrapping details!

This one comes with DIY instructions courtesy of Design*Sponge!

photo credit: Design Sponge

Plus, nowadays, with the focus on eco-friendliness in every facet of our lives, gift wrap has plenty of eco-friendly options too! Take fabric gift wrap, for instance. You heard me right - FABRIC. Check it out.

photo credit: Etsy

Or adorable fabric drawstring bags!

photo credit: Etsy

And don't forget the icing on the metaphorical gift-wrapping cake - the tags! The number of unique tag options out there is absolutely endless! Lots of DIY options, and lots available to purchase. Lookie here for instance.

photo credit: Etsy

There are even letterpress options - gorgeous!

photo credit: Etsy

I most definitely love gift wrapping this week! Whaddya say? I imagine you love it too!

what I love: christmas decor!

I suppose it is now December, huh? It kinda snuck up on us, but now it's here! Presents are being bought and Christmas cards are being mailed. More importantly, all those boxes of decorations are being pulled off their dusty shelves and seeing the light of day once again! Christmas decor is one of my favorite parts of Christmas. The songs and pies are a close second and third. The decor, though, takes the metaphorical cake.

How could one not be enamored with the decor of the holidays?! Look here!

photo credit: Pizzazzerie

A gingerbread house that is far too cute for words, and what's better? You can make it for yourself thanks to Courtney over at Pizzazzerie!

Or here!

photo credit: Design Sponge

The good news is that you can DIY this puppy too!

I've got more for you. Don't worry! An oh-so adorable felt garland on a mini Christmas tree! Love!

photo credit: Oh Happy Day

So I'm 100% certain: I love Christmas decor! What do ya say? Do you love it too?

what I love: Shutterfly holiday cards!

So, I guess it is officially the holidays now, isn't it? For those of us who have been preparing since January 1st for this time to come, I'm sure you are more than prepared! For those of us who just realized that Thanksgiving is 7 days away (of which I am one), you are scrambling to get present lists together, gift wrap out of the back of the closet and holiday cards ordered ASAP. Well, the bad news is I can't buy nor wrap your presents for you; the good news is I can help you with at least one of those problems! For the holiday cards, I introduce you to Shutterfly! 

I am a huge fan of a photo card! Though I will be the first to admit that I haven't always been. But in recent years, as my friends began to get married, have babies, buy houses, etc, I quickly realized that the photo card at the end of the year kept me in the loop as to just what was going on in all of their lives! Plus a great photo card gives your friends and family a nice opportunity to have something to frame and put on the wall. Can't beat double duty gifts! I have staked out many a holiday photo card, since it's often hard (okay, I'll admit - nearly impossible!) to please my *discerning* eye. So needless to say, I was shocked when I started adding card after card to my Favorites on Shutterfly!

My current front-runner favorite (probably only if I had children as adorable as this though!):

Another fave:

 And yet another:

 I love how the text integrates itself into the photo card above and vice versa! Plus that background pattern is clean and modern without screaming "Hi, I'm a holiday card!"

My favorite part about Shutterfly is the fact that they don't have only one thing; they have lots of things! So maybe you can handle some of those gifts for your family all in one go! Some of my personal favorites include calendars, mugs, and of course the cards! I've already picked out our card for this holiday season, and I'm not gonna lie - I love it! Have you?!

*All images are courtesy of Shutterfly

p.s. Bloggers, it doesn't hurt that they're running a promotion right now; bloggers get 50 free holiday cards from Shutterfly… sign up: http://bit.ly/sfly2010 :) Enjoy!
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what I love: etsy for presents!

Okay, so unless you've been living under a largely over enlarged rock for the last few years, its pretty likely you've heard of the amazing crafter's online paradise called Etsy. And if you happen to be one of the few that did happen to find themselves under that enlarged rock, let me explain the amazingness which is Etsy!

Etsy is a crafter's (and craft lover's) paradise, and I'll tell you why. Etsy is a place for all people who make things. Whether you make your living with it or you make it in your spare time, you can sell it on Etsy. Whether you've been doing it for six months or doing it for six years, you can sell it on Etsy.

And when I say it, I mean EVERYTHING - from felt cup cozies, to earrings, to hand-bound notebooks, to furniture, to pottery to EVERYTHING! When it first started in 2005, there were just a few hundred items being sold on Etsy. Now, in just the month of October 2009, there were 1,065,475 items sold.

Items are being listed and sold constantly, which is exactly why Etsy is my love this week.

We all have to face the fact that in the coming weeks, there will be many presents to buy - for weddings, for birthdays, but most of all, for the holidays. It is an undeniable fact. Yes, we can wake up at the butt-crack of dawn on Friday and make our way to all those crazy stores and buy our friends and family mass-produced items that, likely, 15 of their friends will also have. OR we can wake up at a sane hour, log on to Etsy.com, and buy our friends and family heartfelt, handmade gifts that mean something. You choose. (I'm going with the latter.)

So my love this week is officially Etsy for presents! What do you think? Check it out and let me know if you love it too!