Write that letter. Pick up that phone. Send that text. Reconnect.
Don’t expect, wish, or hope. Just appreciate.
This Valentine’s Day, don’t buy into the hype. No disappointment if you don’t get a candy-gram or a bunch of flowers. No shame that you don’t have a Valentine. No anger that your boyfriend ‘didn’t do enough’. Let today serve as a reminder of how lucky you are to be surrounded by such magnificent human beings who love every inch of you! Be grateful for the people you love, and be happy just to spend time with them.
And make sure to take some time today to love yourself! Treat yourself to a day full of little luxuries, smiles, and unconditional love.
There are so many cynics out there about Valentine’s, but what a wonderful holiday – a day created to remind you to love the ones you love.
{a delicious caramelized red onion and mushroom grilled cheese sandwich}
This week has been full of simple, lovely things. I went back to my beloved yoga class, and my body informed me that it was about time, since I’ve been sore since Tuesday. I had my first column published in an online newspaper (take that, New Years Resolution #17!) and couldn’t stop beaming with pride! I had a much-needed girl’s dinner with a good friend: perogies (with sour cream & caramelized onions), salad (with tomatoes, walnuts, goat cheese and green onions) and delicious wine. We ended the night by making the easiest chocolate chip cookies on earth (and replaced chocolate chips with chopped up Toblerone). I heard my Dad get overjoyed about his Kindle (and got antsy for mine!*), watched more episodes of Modern Family than I care to admit, wished I could do Rihanna’s dance while I walked down the street listening to this song, got all my textbooks and felt alive and on fire in the best possible way. Here are some snapshots from the last week or so.
{two amazing Christmas presents that I am absolutely in love with!}
{my super convenient clip-on iPod that is perfect for mittened-hand control!}
{the first issue of my Vegetarian Time subscription!}
{just a few textbooks – I’m so excited about my subjects this semester!}
{I picked up some beautiful things from the Dollar Store – candles, a vase and two decorative bowls, perfect for entertaining!}
What’s floating your boat this week?
xoxo,
*Expect a Kindle review post as soon as I get my hot little hands on my belated Christmas present!
Happy 2011!! Are you as excited as me about this brand new start, clean slate, chance for reflection and growth? Here’s how excited I am: me and one of my biffles, Isabelle, rang in the new year with champagne, a bonfire and stinky cheeses before reading ‘Oh! The Places You’ll Go‘ and brainstorming ideas and resolutions for 2011. We got out pens and paper and wrote down all the things we’d like to be better at, & all the things we’d like to accomplish before this time next year. No dream was too big, and there was absolutely no ‘reality’ check/negativity/cynicism, since dreams need encouragement in order to be achieved! We got all giddy and excited about the possibilities that the future holds, and now I am more jazzed up than ever! Bring it on 2011. :)
Looking back to my 2010 resolutions, I can see that I made a mistake. I was fairly vague in some of my resolutions: “take more chances” and “update my blog more” are not, in my opinion, very clear or easy to achieve. There’s no way of knowing if you’ve really succeeded! So even though I think I accomplished about 7/10 of my last year’s resolutions, it’s not concrete enough for me. I’d prefer goals that I can easily check off: done. That’s why this year, I’m only putting on specific, clear goals. Even though this type of resolutions are a bit scarier to put into words than the vague kind (ex. “be a better friend”), I think they’ll ultimately be more effective for me. They’ll kick my butt into high gear! So without further ado, my resolutions for 2011:
Personal Goals
By personal goals, I mean concrete, specific achievements I’d like to accomplish by 2012.
Post on my blog at least twice a week. Actual total: 78.
Read 100 books. Actual total: 50.
Get a massage. Blissful, in Cancun!
Spend 1 month eating vegan. Not quite a month. About 2 weeks.
Okay, so now that I’ve tackled gifts for the men and for the women in your life that you can purchase, how about a few ideas of what you could potentially make them yourself?
Creating a gift yourself is a totally a win-win situation. You will feel very accomplished and fulfilled, and they will LOVE it because you put in the three key ingredients: time, effort and love. That is the recipe for successful gift-giving.
I know what you’re thinking though: “I suck at DIY. I am the least crafty person in the whole world. It’s too much work. I don’t wanna!”
Hush, child. It will be fine, alright? I’ll take you through this, step by step!
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1. Framed Photos
Photo thanks to room2593
While not exactly DIY, giving a gift of a photo in a beautiful frame definitely reflects thought and effort. People are always looking for unique, pretty things to put around their homes as reminders of people who love them! So here’s your chance to contribute, I promise your present won’t be in vain.
Here’s what you do:
+ Find a beautiful photo, either online (try here, here and here) or of your own creation
+ Look for one that would be special to the person: either a photo of them, their family, or just a beautiful landscape or image of something they really love.
+ Get your hands on a frame! Idea: see if you can find one at Goodwill or a thrift store and spray paint it a pretty colour. Fun fun fun.
And there you have it. A lovely reminder of you and your love!
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2. Baked Goods
Photo thanks to booleansplit
One of my favourite gift options for the holidays is baked goodies. Cheap, easy, adorable, thoughtful, it’s the perfect gift! Plus, there are so many fun and creative ways to package your treats.
+ My top picks? Cookies of any variety, cupcakes, squares, holiday-themed bark (try candy cane, maple, white chocolate & cranberries..the list goes on!), if you’re ambitious – or you only have a few gifts to give – pie, cakes, pumpkin breads, biscotti, chocolates (truffles, brownies, mmm)! Am I making you hungry yet? Good, that means your giftee will be just as amazed and delighted by your present.
+ Wrap them up in cute ways! Find an old tin with a cute pattern on it, line it with wax paper and fill with goodies. Or get a pretty plate and stack it high, then wrap the whole thing with cellophane and a pretty bow. Or how about buying a pretty purse or bag or cute little Christmas stocking and stuffing it full of treats?
You do that, and visions of sugar plums will be dancing in their heads.
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3. Do-it-Themselves Baked Goods!
Photo thanks to photoann
Another fun and easy idea is to create a cute little package for someone to make themselves their own treats on a cold winter’s night. Even if they are self-professed non-bakers, they will definitely be grateful if you package up all the ingredients for them and include a short recipe. :) Here are some ideas:
+ Get a cute mug, and fill it with the ingredients for Microwave Chocolate Cake. Attach a little hand-written card listing the steps in how to make it!
+ Package together a gourmet hot chocolate mix, complete with an adorable cup and plenty of mini marshmellows
+ Fill a mason jar in layers with the ingredients for a yummy cookie (sugars, flours, chocolate chips, extras) and affix the recipe to the side. Try this adorable recipe from Bakerella!
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4. A Token of Your Talents
Photo thanks to ummella
What’s something you’re really good at? Don’t say you’re not good at anything. I know you are. Why not use that special talent to create something special for everyone on your list?
If you’re an artist (even an amateur!), draw/paint/sketch/pastel/sculpt.
If you enjoy taking pictures, see #1.
If you’re a writer, dream up a short story (or a long one), get it printed (try here) and gift it.
If you like to knit, create some fluffy mittens or a scarf.
If you’re a musician, record some holiday music on your computer or online!
..You get the point, right? The point is: no matter what you’re good at, and no matter what you think of the finished product or its caliber, the receiver of these gifts will be astonished. They will cherish them forever, because they came straight from the heart, wrapped up in love. :)
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5. Bath Products
Photo thanks to cyron
Again, don’t freak out about how DIY this sounds. It doesn’t have to be super complicated or stressful! Here are a few recipes to make some delectable lotions and potions for everyone on your list:
Bath bombs (so expensive at Lush, so cheap DIY – I read that citric acid = lemon juice for our purposes)
Bath salts (mmm, I want to add peppermint oil to mine!)
Check out tons more great ideas for slightly more complicated recipes here :)
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And you’re done!
See! That wasn’t too scary, now was it? Just think how nice it would feel to gift something straight from your heart, made with your own two hands. I’d say that’d be living the true spirit of the holidays. :) Hope you were inspired!
Any other ideas for DIY gifts? I’d love to hear them!
