party in a box

I love this idea from you are my fave on melodie's blog...who wouldn't love to receive this 'party in a box' on their birthday?

more pretty holiday

This girl is sooo talented, I eat up everything she does. And she's only 21! (Makes me feel old to write that). If you haven't checked out A Field Journal...get yourself over there- now!

Some of her pretty Christmas wrappings, above.

the exchange

Every year Gen and I have an unspoken competition as to who can out-package each other's birthday gift. Our birthdays are a week apart, so we usually exchange gifts sometime in late April. It's not so much about what is in the package, but how the package is wrapped. While I'm desperate to see what treasures are inside, I try to linger on the wrapping for as long as I can stand. She always, always out does me! Though to my credit this year- I was preparing for a dinner party while also trying to wrap- it didn't get the attention it deserved. Next year, I will try again...

organizing pressie

Gen's pressies never disappoint. Of course, half the gift is the wrapping itself! This year she bestowed me with some organizing lovelies for a desktop. 

handmade gifts

Do you have friends that you are in awe of? My friend, Miller, is one of those people. She's a mother of 3 girls under the age of four, and yet somehow managed to make Christmas gifts for friends. This year she delivered a belated birthday gift for my son, Gram...a freestyle hand-embroidered American Apparel tee (we love it!). She also decoupaged a picture of her girls atop a simple red box, filled with holiday m&m's. It's a simple, but really lovely, idea. Of course...I have no willpower, so the candy is already gone!

on the way out the door...

Some pressies on their way out the door: 

1) a baby book shower gift: The Giving Tree wrapped in Target gift wrap. The paper reminded me of the apples on the tree, with ruler ribbon vaguely referencing the story of the boy growing up and the passage of time (yes, I'm reading way too much into the ribbon).

2) A cd I made for some friends who are considering a move to the 'ville with city- inspired tunes.