For your buddy

When it comes to Christmas shopping, buying for my friends and sister/sister-in-law is my favourite part... because you can basically just pretend you're shopping for yourself, and buy awesome stuff you'd usually not allow yourself to buy.  Here are a few things I've picked out on etsy to gift to my (self) friends...

Amazing scout-style merit badge from TheScoutProject 

Stacking ring holder bowls from MadgeDishes + Awesome painted pouch from emmyreis

Poppy phone covers from yours truly, of course

Pretty packaged soaps from HelloSoap

Constellation print from BranchandOlive

 Too early mug from Emily Mcdowell Draws + Beautiful scarves from Link collective

... and don't forget, if you've not shopped on etsy before you can use this link to get £5 towards your first purchase!

My other favourite thing to gift at the holidays are books.  Have you setup a Goodreads profile? It's a great way of keeping track of books you've read and books you've been recommended.  You can check my list of books I want to read here.

This year I'm actually trying to rebuild my collection of books I've read and leant out and never gotten back or lost. It's nice to have copies of your faves on the shelf.  Here are a few of my all time favourites that I think would make lovely gifts:

Other failsafe ideas: stripey socks, massive jars of coconut oil, beautiful manuka honey.  Licorice, special salt, coffee. You're welcome and happy holidays!

xo

Love life 2014

IT'S A NEW YEAR right? A chance to start over. We can pickup new hobbies and make plans and fill our planners and kick some bad habits and create some good habits.

I thought I'd pickout a few things that might inspire you while you're in a seizing-the-day kind of mood.

Send some thank you cards for all those nice gifts you got over the holidays.

▲ Wolf moon card ▲Stay Golden card ▲ Lazy Dog card ▲ Fox card ▲ Cat card ▲ Thank you postcards ▲ You're neat card ▲ well done card ▲  80s sweater card ▲

Throw out some of your old coffee mugs and replace them with some new ones:

Gold polka dot mug ▲Copenhagen coffee mug

Call a few people you've not called in a long time and tell them they mean a lot to you.

Heart brooch

Read! With a broken foot there is a distinct lack of running in my life and reading is totally filling that gap.  I'm currently tearing through The Fault in our Stars by John Green.  Have you got a good book recommendation? I'm on Goodreads - join!!  Here are some books I have lined up to read next.

Hopefully you're feeling inspired and excited about the year ahead in a non-going to the gym and doing a crazy detox-sort of way. Cuz staying home with your leg in a cast is wayyy cooler than doing exercise. 

Brighten up your pocket

 I did these new pocket mirrors!  Five rad new designs.  £3 each or two for £5. Weeeee!

Fancy a date?

My boyfriend laughed in my face when I told him WhSmith RUNS OUT of diaries within the first week or two of January.  I'm not lying, no? Thanks to the internet though there's a wonderfully wonderful selection of journals and planners and calendars to house your very important coffee dates, to-do lists and 3am ideas.  Here are some of my faves.

Paper wall calendar by Misakomimoko + Mood Diary by EineDerGuten + Sweet as Pie Pocket Notebook 3 Pack by theblackapple 

NYHarbor Ships Birthday Calendar by Bowsprite + Strange Strangers Calendar by matesrubbish + Mt. Hood wall calendar by CathyMcMurray 

 2013 monthly planner by dozi (they also do a nice weekly planner) + 2013 Daily Planner in Peach by juliakostreva 

If all else fails, you can't go wrong with a trusty moleskine (I have ordered the pocket sized weekly planner in red.) 

For your eyes

1. Croissant Bear 2. Fuck Off Leopard 3. Everything you do is right sign 4. Uppertiny art 5. Raindrop light pull Because we all need these things in our lives.

Good things

A list of things that are good:

1. I don't even mind if winter hangs around cuz I've got my orange winter coat.

2. Not sure what sort of black magic goes into this stuff, but daaaaamn.

3.  Read these books.

4. Caine's Arcade

5.  Eggs. I need protein and protein needs me!!!

True Love

If you're looking for a non-crazy-psycho youtube video-way of expressing your feelings to the one you love next week (although I'm all for it) here are some ideas: 

1. You make me happy card From letterhappy
2. Coaster set from Arthouse Meath, £8

3. Coffee Mug by YouAreLove Creations, £12.90
4. Mouse patch from Hannah Zakari, £6

5. Black and White needlepoint loafer from By Paige, £128
6. Groundhog pinchpot from Tigerhead designs, £7
7.  Nice Goose print by Tosya, £9
8.  Something nice (pretty much everything is nice) from Santoki Vintage

Please be careful out there, Valentines Day can get pretty hard core... I for one am going to just stay in and watch tv or just go on the internet. (see you sentimental losers laterrr!)