Nerd Herd Thursday – Christmas Wish List Edition

This was not originally meant as a Nerd Herd post, but then, the day I was planning on posting this very exciting Christmas wish list (which I had been working on for a while), a certain famous blogger that I tend to emulate posted something so similar, it was eerie. Then I realized if I posted my wish list, I would seem like a total d-bag, copycat, idiot, dummyhead.

Due to all of this, my wish list now officially qualifies as nerdy.

I originally put this list together for the husband, who claims I’m way to hard to shop for (Directions: Enter Anthropologie. Pick up any item. Purchase said item. Happy wife. How hard is that?!), and then decided to post it here in case there is a rare chance that any guys reading this need some ideas for their somewhat dorky, bordering on stylish, mid-twenties, former space camp attending girlfriends/wives/sisters/whatever.

And so…dun, dun, daaahhhh! This list.

Wishlist

1. Apartment Therapy Presents – a decor book I truly need if I’m ever to finish my house. Or just one room in it. 2. Flip Video Recorder – I’m always missing the best moments, and with this teeny thing, they could be immortalized forever. Great to torture Lulu when she’s older. 3. Pickle Ornament – For good luck. 4. Unicorn – Magical. 5. Hunter Wellies – In high gloss yellow. I think looking at this list will somehow give you an idea of my favorite color. 6. Jeweled Cady Dress in Pumpkin– ON SALE IN MY SIZE, $100 OFF, BUY ME!!! 7. Arrested Development the Complete Series – Perhaps the best show of all time. Ever. 8. A Jet Pack – Pricey? Yes. Worth it? Totally! 9. A Dutch Oven – I need one. And this one’s orange. 10. Atomic Earrings – Totally my style, and from Etsy, the best website of all time. 11. A Puffy Coat – All of my coats are either work fancy or make me look like I’m going to ski school. I need something in between. 12. Rink Roller Skates – To practice for my inevitable turn as a roller derby champion. 13. Funkalicious T-Shirt – I think this one’s pretty obvious. I’m starting a tradition that every year Trent, Lu and I will get funky t-shirts in our stocking. This one is mine.

OK, now that you know what I want, get out there and shop, people!

For the Woman That Has Everything

In late October, Trent’s paternal grandmother turned 80 years old. This past summer, we spent a week with the entire family in Colorado to celebrate the big birthday, but we didn’t give her a gift, as we figured we’d wait until her actual birthday. Fast forward two months and, oh dear, now what do we do?!

All of my grandparents either passed away before I was born or when I was pretty young, so I’m never quite sure how to navigate the whole “grandmother” thing. Trent’s grandma is quite fiesty, very active (um, she flies airplanes with her husband on a monthly basis) and has no room for “stuff.” OK, now what do I get for her??? Personally, I think this should be Trent’s problem, but let’s be honest, boys don’t do gifts.

While perusing my favorite shopping website, I did a search for vintage items with the tag “1928,” the year Trent’s grandmother was born. I happened to come upon a cookbook, in relatively good condition, copyrighted 1928. I also found a woman who searches through old newspapers, cuts out kitchy articles, and sells them. I bought both items and waited patiently for them to arrive….very patiently, as one shipped a bit late (due to some miscommunication, but both sellers were FABULOUS and I totally recommend them).

The book finally got here a week or so ago and I set to work jazzing it up for Trent’s grandmother. It was in amazing shape, except for the cover, which was a bit wrecked from wear and tear. I decided to recover the book…but a crafty Martha Stewart I am not. Here’s what we ended up with:

Book

I bought some fun paper that went with the original cover color at Paper Source, then affixed it to the cover with book binding glue. If I was really crafty, I would have removed the cover completely and made a new one, making it look a bit more professional…but I’m not, so this will have to do.

Map

The inside covers had maps of the US with food all over them.

Southern Cooking

That’s the lady that wrote the book. Gotta love a giant collar/broach combo. Trent’s grandma lives in Tennessee, so I thought she’d like the whole “Southern Cooking” thing.

Cocktails

Ha! Immaturity, 1920’s style. Love it!

News

Here is a picture (albeit, not a great one) of one of the newspaper articles I got with the book. I stuck them inside, marking some fun recipes.

Present

All wrapped up and ready to go! I sent it off today (only a month late…), hopefully she’ll enjoy it.

Thus ends the only ever edition of Crazybananas Goes Crafting. Tomorrow I’ll write about something more normal. I promise.

Addicted to Etsy

A few days ago, after my beloved television had been shipped off to our new house, I tweeted (twittered?) about what one does when they are drinking wine and don’t have basic cable to keep them company. My response showed what a large divide there is between men and women when it comes to Internet-based entertainment.

I found myself drunk shopping on Etsy.

Oh, Etsy. My somewhat newly found love. I say “somewhat” because as early as February of this year I was ordering strange, unique items from Etsy (like this crocheted heart for Trent’s Valentine’s Day gift), but I hadn’t really discovered what is possible for a site that gives people the world over a chance to buy unique, handmade and vintage pieces, even if they live in Middle-of-nowhere, Kansas instead of Brooklyn or San Francisco.

What, do you ask, are these items that are forcing me to click the buy button? What could make me spend, spend, spend, when I just bought a house and my husband bought another business and the economy’s in the crapper? Well…

First up is the Design Fruit shop. Design Fruit is where I get all of my Photoshop brushes and Illustrator vectors that I use in my random invites and thank you cards. They just opened an Etsy shop where they are selling wall decals that make my heart go pitter-patter. They add so much to a boring wall, and with our house decorating budget in the negative digits, the price is much more managable than a painting or other piece of art.

Design Fruit Wall Decal

This one is going in Trent and I’s yellow bedroom.

Bird with Headphones

I ordered this one for Lucy’s room. I’m either going to put it over her doorway or on a windowsill.

This will squarely solidify my dork status, but I love this shop by Lanie Beth. She sells funky merchandise and focuses a large portion of her work on the Twilight series. Yes, that Twilight series. My friend Mara and I have been discussing getting t-shirts to wear to the film premiere of Twilight this November, and when I saw this, my finger moved to the buy button quicker than that pointer thing on a Ouiji Board. Mara is a little pissed, as she really wanted to make puffy paint shirts, but I couldn’t resist.

Edward Dazzles Shirt

Look, glitter!!!

It’s been known for a while that I love me some Mighty Goods, so I was thrilled when they opened an Etsy shop to sell vintage items found at thrift stores on the west coast. I’m particularly fond of this jar, which I would love to leave on my nightstand to hold all of my random crap that seems to collect there. So far, I’ve been able to resist that buy button, but I wouldn’t count on that lasting.

White Jar

Snoozer Loser is a shop based out of NYC (of course) and I love all of their beautiful clothes. My fashion sense has finally started to become a bit more than tops from the Gap outlet, and I’ve been finding myself more interested in special pieces with vintage flair (yes, I just said flair). I also love how she names each item. Meet my crush, The Olivia top.

The Olivia

You can’t have her, she’s mine!

We can’t leave the rest of the family out of the fun! I’ve found tons of great dresses for Lu on Esty (along with some lovely handmade toys), but these ones take the cake. Technically I found them via Dooce, who posted about them here, but I’ve fallen deep in love with the shop Tuff as Snails. From their t-shirts to their skull dresses, I can’t get enough. I’m planning putting off the purchases until Christmas or Lu’s birthday, but I’m having trouble staying away.

Octopus Dress

Lately, Trent’s been very in to wearing a tie to work. And I have to admit, that boy looks damn sexy in a good tie. The shop Me and Matilda is a great place to get handmade, unique ties that don’t have the feel of the last minute gift you found at Dillards. I’m a particular fan of this tangerine one, as Trent can wear orange like nobody’s business.

Tangerine Dots Tie

And let’s keep this orange theme running, shall we. I guess I’ve shown why I painted my kitchen orange, huh? I’m sort of a fan. Poor Molly Moo, who gets left out of most everything these days, deserves a fun treat as well. Her current collar has begun to smell a bit like a sewer on a hot day, so I’m thinking of getting her a new one. Maybe one to match Trent’s tie, like this one from 8 Paws Collars.

Orange Collar

For some reason this pattern reminds me of Thanksgiving….

So if you’re looking to buy me anything (I dunno, a housewarming gift, perhaps…not that I’m implying anything), check Etsy first. There you’ll find some real gems, and will probably max out your credit card. In fact, you may want to ask someone to hide your wallet before you log on. Lest you end up like me, with too many wall decals and no lunch money.

PRODUCTe Jewelry

On dreary, drab Monday mornings, I live to look at pretty things. It’s even better if I dream these pretty things will someday soon end up on my doorstep. Good thing for me (and all of you) that my awesome sister-in-law has finally opened her own Etsy Shop where anyone can buy her gorgeous, handmade jewelry.

Most years for Christmas I have received a piece of PRODUCTe jewelry, and I wear them almost daily. I have a couple of pairs of earrings and one fabulous chunky blue necklace, but of course, I’m craving more. Just yesterday I sent an email to my husband with the subject line “Birthday Gift” and the following picture.

Debut Necklace

Ahhh, covet.

You can see (and buy) more at PRODUCTe.etsy.com. What are you doing?! Go!

Advice

Lu’s birthday is one week away (OK, nevermind, it’s 6 days away, crap!) and I have NO IDEA what to get her. I wanted to do something special, something different, but I didn’t have the time earlier this month to order a gift. I’ve been scavenging craigslist looking for something unique, but am coming up way, way short. Any ideas? Help me, readers reader. You’re my only hope!

*Did anyone catch my Star Wars reference? Yeah, I’m pretty awesome.

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...