T and I have been itching to try our hand at creating a terrarium or two for our place. The first task though was finding the right vessels. I had in mind what I wanted from a few I’ve seen before so we discussed what we needed and were off to the resale shops. Thrifting has become our new fun hobby. Where else can you find relatively well-made (or hand made), vintage, nostalgic and inexpensive household accessories? Sure we don’t always really need what we find (and inevitably purchase) but we are starting from scratch here and need something to put up on that wall…

Our first stop was Curiosity Corner on 78 across from White Rock Lake. This nice older couple owned the shop for 25 years and are just about to retire, so check it out while you still can. There selection was not quite what we fancy but we did find a smaller glass bowl, pictured below, upper-left. $1 too! I also grabbed a few old travel post cards of places I have visited.

After, we drove a little further down Grand and discovered a giant second-hand shop called Garland Road Thrift Stores. It was basically a huge Goodwill shop but T spotted these two wide-mouth glass beauts seen below. Total cost: $2.50. Bam! I honestly wasn’t expecting to find these so quickly but we did. There is so much out there. You just have to have a plan and know what you’re looking for.

Oh and that fish-bowl-looking vessel above is what you think it is. I kept it on the down-low but our beloved FISH passed a few months ago. Very sad, yes. But now his old home is to be repurposed and loved once more.

We also picked up this funky mirror at that first shop. It was $15 but is made of plaster and is real heavy. While the gold is growing on me, I think we’ll disassemble it and paint the frame a glossy white. Thoughts?

Check back soon for terrarium photos!

I was thrilled to receive in the mail my prized calendar from You & Me the Royal We via sfgirlbybay. Victoria posted about a trio of designers who were giving away this year calendar. To win, you had to comment about “the worst thing you ever forgot”. Now, I’ll let you dig through the comments to find what it was that I misplaced but long story short, I won! woo.

Inside the bag were four bulldog clips and some nails! And probably my favorite part was the included instructions:

Tools you will need: a Hammer, a Pencil, a Level, a Friend.

Step 1: Receive your tube.

Step 2: Open your tube. Inside you will find: 4 clips, 4 nails, a black pen and this set of instructions.

Step 3: Select a wall within your abode to display your calendar.

Step 4: Attach 2 clips evenly along the top of the calendar and 2 along the bottom. Hold the calendar up to your selected wall and using your level, make sure its nice and straight. Have a friend mark the wall through the holes on the clips.

Step 5: Set it down somewhere safe and hammer the 4 nails into the 4 marks.

Step 6: Hang your calendar on the nails.

Step 7: Use your calendar to plot your linear existence and navigate through time.

It’s a really beautiful calendar. The days are printed light enough for marking important events and reminders. And the paper stock is super good quality. Check out the embossing below…

It’s also quite large. T and I took a bit of time deciding where to hang it but finally determined that it belonged above our entry table. Now maybe we won’t buy concert tickets for the same night we’re supposed to be at a wedding…

Hi and happy two-thousand-eleven.

This is going to be a good year. I can feel it. Can you?

December the 24th is probably my favorite day of the year. As a child it was important because we would open our Christmas presents that evening (before everyone else!) but now it is even more special as it means tradition, memories, family and food. Each Christmas Eve we gather in Beaumont at my Grammi’s house after the church service. We munch on all sorts of finger-foods, catch up with one another and prepare for the pickle! Us grandchildren walk slowly around the Christmas tree, tediously looking for the shiny pickle ornament that is hidden that day. The one who finds it acts as “Santa” and selects the first present for opening. The rest of the night is spent exchanging gifts, opening them one at a time, with more eating, background music and laughter – if you get a clothing item, you must try it on – house rule! This lasts far into the wee hours of Christmas Day morning when we finally finish and hit the sack. Family gathered around the living room. Warmth, light, sharing, love, Christ.

But before we leave Dallas, I wanted to share a few images of the holiday festivities taking place here. I finally finished my portfolio, which is the most time-consuming portion of my graduate applicaiton <whew!> and can now get back to my life.

We brought home the bottom tree limbs from our Fraser Fir and T strung them into garland.

A trip to Bows & Arrows gave T all she needed to get crafty. And for our place to smell great. Ahh, juniper.

Wreath 01 of 02. This one was for a gift and had the pinecones and greenery already. T added more juniper, the red berries and the bells.

We hosted a dinner party of some of my architecture school friends, tapas-style. Yum.

These were my favorite – goat cheese and churizo stuffed tomatoes.

With book exchange.

And our second annual snowflake cutting contest.

There were some pretty great creations. Though some of us never mastered the circular shape…

T’s second Christmas wreath for our front door! This one she made from scratch, starting with a twig base.

As part of our “buy local” and “homemade” christmas gifting, we recycled my Stendig calendar as wrapping paper. Sure is pretty.

TIme for sleep. For Lulu and me.

So whatever your holiday traditions may be, I hope they are just as special as mine and that you have a very blessed several days.

This has been my life outside of work and the limited amounts of sleep for the large portion of the past couple of weeks. I was a bit squeamish about posting online about this but what is the point if I am not honest? Here is a list of truths: I am applying for graduate school. Architecture schools require portfolios of previous work. I procrastinate very well. The first round of applications is due next Wednesday. I should be in good shape. Yes that is in fact a nearly empty bag of giant marshmallows. I like to snack on them, okay?

I clearly should not be posting but wanted to let you know I am still alive. Send your wishful thoughts my way if you can spare them.

It is beginning to feel awesome outside. I was beginning to wonder if it would ever come but it seems the winds have finally changed. With the extra hour I had this morning (more like 4 since I for some reason woke up at 5am) I tackled the giant mound of laundry that’s been piling secretly in the closet, used our teapot for some hot black tea, ate bagels and reseached local Dallas printers. All before 9am! Hooray.

And for lunch today, I made scrumptious grilled cheese sandwiches with cooked asparagus and mushrooms (probably my two favorite vegetables). This is the time of year for comfort foods. Already I’ve made a great white bean soup, adapted from this recipe. Does anyone have a good chili or tortilla soup recipe?

T came down with a nasty strep throat on Friday so I have also been playing the role of doctor. She is feeling better but sleeping quite a bit. It has been a stressful few weeks for the both of us.

Have a good one, yourself please and take a few moments to enjoy the changing of the seasons.