Merry Christmas

Hoarder Inventory

Current inventory of the backyard of the hoarder that lives behind us:

2 bed frames, full or queen size
2 dining tables
2 pair sandals
1 tarp
1 grill
1 bookshelf
5 5-gallon buckets, some with lids
miscellaneous bits from the front of a car, 1 headlight, etc.
1 large birdcage, sans bird
6-8 small bags containing what appears to be aluminum cans

Why, oh why, couldn't our back fence be higher?

Conspicuous Consumption

Not to sound too much like the Charlie Brown Christmas special, but when did Christmas become so much about consumerism?  This year I've done much of my shopping online, where I feel like I can really concentrate on finding just the right thing (singular) for each person, rather than being inundated by things, things, things and overbuying.  It still doesn't feel all that good this year.  2011 might be the year we migrate to "giving" by doing or donating. 

Do you find a million extra things you hadn't previously wanted or considered purchasing when Christmas shopping?    Here's what I found last night.  No one thinks they need an origami crane bank or baby tube socks.  Until they see them and are in the midst of a buying frenzy.
(Side note:  although you might not need them, $5 of the purchase price of the bank and sequin animals benefits St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.) 



$9.97-$22.00 at West Elm



$9.97 at West Elm

Welcome 2011!

As we polish off 2010, I did a little searching for nice 2011 calendars.  I'm sort of obsessed with the passage of time, and have kept all of my planners and calendars for 10 years (they serve as a strange journal, since I don't keep one otherwise), so I am careful to choose a calendar I really like.  Round 1:

$22.95, Snow & Graham 2011 Wall Calendar at Patina

Okay, this isn't for "journaling," but it helps me focus on living in the moment to flip forward every day (losing the last day forever).  $16 Vintage Forever Calendar from Etsy seller Eclectic Home

$12 from Etsy seller bomobob

$12.95 Daily Doodle calendar from West Elm  Remember your year in doodles.