Monthly Archives: November 2011

giftable: jonas damon tool set

And then there are the people on your list that are just stinkin' hard to buy for. Or someone that you don't know very well.... what to give them?!

One idea: wood. It's a classy choice that gives a thoughtful impression.

The Tool Set by Jonas Damon is functional, interesting & includes all the basic doo-dads for someone who doesn't do a whole lot of home-fix its - but still needs a level!!

If you are thinking the flashlight (also known as a torch) is the best piece of the set, well.. you can buy that separately. The Torch is my favorite too.

Etc.: Give & Tell with Summer Roberton on Wantist

Now this was FUN! I was recently interviewed by Brittany Reiff of Wantist for their Give & Tell series. Wantist is a site that makes it impossible to give a bad gift. Not only do they have an amazing curated gift selection but the Wantist blog is fantastic. You will be inspired to be thoughtful & have fun with your life.

The Give & Tell interview reveals funny things about my mom & how great my husband Danny is as well as why I generally don't use gift wrap.

Read it here & then spend the rest of the day reading everything else -- so good!!

& Thank you to Brittany for including me in her series. I'm honored!

Inspiration: mt expo 2011

Oh HOT! I came across this fantastic post on the mt Expo on Hello Sandwhich - can you even imagine how fun that would have been to attend?!

By the looks of it, everything was covered from to head to toe in mt at the expo - even the floor?! I would have smiled the whole time & totally geek'd out.

What's your favorite use for decorative masking tape? I try to use my skinny hot pink whenever possible....

All images via Hello Sandwhich -- thx!

Portland Nights – a time-lapse project

Was browsing my neglected twitter feed and saw this wonderful time lapse video (@travelportland) and thought it must be shared:

fun! - made by the people at Page Films
check out there post describing the process and quirks of shooting this video here

November / Autumnal Mix

Autumnal, a beautiful word (didnt know it existed until my lovely english lady used it in a sentence...she tells me it's a british word and not to feel bad about not knowing it). Autumn is in full swing in Portland and it is both beautiful and chilly. Here's a little mix for a cozy fall night:

1) the Preakness by Panda Bear
2) Already Replaced by Steve Hauschildt
3) VCR (xx cover) by The Antlers
4) Amor Fati by Washed Out (Au Revior Simone Remix)
5) Never by Orbital
6) Dive by Human
7) Ram On (McCartney Cover) by The Morning Benders
8) Oblivion by Grimes
9) Wait in The Dark by Memory Tapes

make/do: table fun _thanksgiving '11

More Thanksgiving inspiration! Today I have a fun, interactive "centerpiece" idea for you that will get everyone at your dinner table chatting & saying funny things.

In addition to the standard assemblage of dish & silverware, set a cup, bowl or jar (as illustrated in the image above) at each place setting. Fill the jar with word tiles (from a Scrabble or Bananagram game)...allowing some tiles spill over.

Place a little book on each place setting along with a pencil for guests to keep score as mini-games take place around the table between guests. Any riff on the traditional word game would be fun -- but feel free to make up your own rules! My idea: only made up words with definition or slang words are acceptable! Fun, huh?!

Another idea: buy 8-10 feet (depending on the length of your dining table) of black butcher paper (this is available by the foot at your local school supply/learning store). Add chalk to the table & guest can keep score and/or doodle. I love the dramatic look of black on the dining table & the playfulness of the word tiles.

Happy Thanksgiving!

giftable: harry allen pig bank

In my younger years I would purchase cheap dollar store plastic piggy banks & fill them full of cash for friend's birthdays. Obviously a huge hit.

The Harry Allen Pig Bank is, well, a bit more sophisticated. And designer-ish-ly spendy at $125 a pig. But it will surely make your friends squeal with delight which makes the Harry Allen Pig Bank very very giftable.

It's an impressive piggy too, measuring 18" long and large enough to fit $10k in Washingtons....!

While the metallic pink piggy is cute, the Pig Bank is available in 8 colors. My favorite? Matte Black.

H&H guide to successful gifting _holiday '11

Yes! Here it is, the H&H 2011 Short List of Successful Gifting.
Browse! It's really gifty & good, affordable & fun with many design-y gifts under $40!

& inspirational! I am totally loving bright color combinations in contrast with black for the Holidays (more on that later!). DO you like traditional Christmas-y colorways... or do you dare to use neon?

View the SHORT LIST Gift Guide here.

giftable: Singgih Kartono Magno Large Radio

Whoah! Did you ever imagine that the Singgih Kartono Mango (large) Radio was that... gigantic? True!

& that makes it, giftable. Unexpected. Extraordinary. Delightful. And, yes -- that's a RADIO!

Check all Singgih Kartonos here.

food: pies & objects _thanksgiving '11

Dessert is, hands down, my most favorite part of anything. Thanksgiving included.

1 word: Pie.
& lots of it, of course.

Pies:
1. Chocolate & Coconut Pie
2. Spice Kissed Pumpkin Pie
3. Salted Caramel Pie

Objects:
1. Erik Bagger Dessert Wine Glasses
2. Erik Bagger Harmony Dessert Silverware
3. Beehive Laurel Mixing Bowls

What dessert will you be making for this years Thanksgiving Celebration?

images via their respective links.