Yesterday was one of those perfectly busy, only-during-the-Holidays-fun kind of days for me. Sara and I went to Atlanta to do a bit of Christmas shopping at the Anthropologie store and have lunch, etc. This was so wonderful, because as much as I love the convenience and options of doing loads of my shopping online, it is also a little sad to not take any real life Christmas shopping trips. And, hello, I got to go to the favorite store...the store where they do (almost) everything perfectly.
As I finished checking out, the sweet counter-girl threw a slew of these adorable yarn-balls (shown above) into my shopping bag...just because. They are these beautiful, chunky mini-skeins of yarn, wrapped around a little "surprise" (a chunky, wool felt snowflake)! Things like this are why, despite the sometimes absurd prices on plain jersey tops and the potential idea theft, I cannot have anything but utter love for Anthro. With them, we all know, the magic is all in the perfect, quirky little details. I'm happy to pay a bit more for those details. More than happy. *Sigh* Love.
This all sent me down a little trip on memory lane, to a time where my mom had this amazing stash of "suprise balls" that we might be lucky enough to get if we were sickies or just feeling blue. Does anyone know what I'm talking about? They are wrapped in kind of a crepe paper, and have little stickers, tiny toys, etc. nestled in each layer.
Anyway, so now I'm thinking I should make some little yarn suprise balls as little gifts for the little Christmas party I'm hosting on Monday night. I will let you know if this idea becomes reality.
After shopping yesterday, I drove home to help the fam decorate the tree at my Mama's house. I was so looking forward to this little tradition, and it was really fun. I love my family. At my little home, I've been steadily wrapping presents and Christmas-ifying things, in between filling orders. It occured to me that I never showed off my cute tree, and now that it isn't naked below the waist (aka has a good smattering of presents under it) I thought I might show her off.
Do you see that I indeed have a hand-knitted mitten posing a tree topper? I just couldn't find a star that wasn't tacky or an angel that struck my fancy. So, mitten it is. And the two types of hedgie ornaments? The beautiful glass one is from my aforementioned shopping buddy, and the little stuffed one is from the adorable Craftpaca (whose shop is pretty empty right now).
Before I go, I have to tell you about the turn-for-the-worst of Tuesday, when I happily blogged away about cupcakes, dresses, pink vintage slips, beautiful mail....blah blah blog. It was a mega shipping day, so I was preparing packages. And then I went to take out a huge box of trash that I couldn't really see over, and found myself... um falling down the stairs. It was very scary, but mostly because of two things that weren't really the injuries sustained to my legs from the accident. 1.) It is scary to live alone. Nobody knows if something bad happens to you. This had never occured to me. (and) 2.) I am a bit prone to fainting/blacking out. Which I did, twice immediately after the tumble. I know, how terribly Victorian of me...it is just perfect. (wink). So, my shins look...um...unfortunate to say the least, but I am fine. And I wear knee-socks every day, anyway, so their hideous state is hidden away. I'm a walking cautionary tale, but I was saved by the power of Holiday shopping and Christmas-tree-decorating.
