mipmup.

friday favorites.

here are my favorites for this week:

• weekender bag. how awesome is this bag?! i am a big bag fanatic. i need this. i really need it! hello? santa? $240.

• olive wood mortar + pestle. i've had my eye on this for a while. i'm pretty picky when it comes to a mortar + pestle. i can't stand stone ones and i don't like marble ones, so when i tried out this puppy in the store, i was hooked. it's pretty enough for the counter, too. $78.

• cool bag for you knitters out there. my sister bought me a bag from this organization which "provides income, education and self-reliance to vietnamese women and their families." it's a really great bag and i used it for the farmers' market this week. i think i may just put my knitting stuff in it though. not sure of the price.

• garden gloves. so my garden hasn't died yet and i'm thinking that i need some new kicky garden gloves to keep me motivated. these should do. (ps is everything hable construction makes perfect?) $25

• doggy bed. our neighbors gave us a costco dog bed because their dog didn't like it and well, our dog isn't so hip on it either. i'm really into hemp stuff right now (and no. i haven't gone full-blown hippy yet, no patchouli oil to be had around this house), including this great purse my better half got me for christmas, hemp twine to package gifts and a hemp sweater that our friends gave me. this bed must be added to the family. $120.

photo credits: garnet hill; williams-sonoma; lantern moon; hable construction; calliope.

real food.

my mom gave me this book for christmas and i've already made a couple of recipes from it. surprisingly, i've never been to her restaurants here in la, though now i'm jonesing for a visit. the recipes are not complicated at all and it serves as a nice introduction to vegan cooking for the "everyday cook." i like the way she approaches cooking; it's completely my style. it's simple, easy and flavorful.

i made her golden gravy, which fooled a super-carnivore/anti-"health foodie" at the table. it is made with nutritional yeast and whole wheat flour to provide depth of flavor and texture. so simple! other vegan gravy recipes are just blech, but this one! wow. finally! a great veggie cookbook! hooray!

handmade holiday.

i wanted to make as many gifts as i could this year, or have them made by artists i "know" (through the miracle of the internet, that is). it felt really good to give handmade gifts and all were well-received (i think genuinely). if i do this again, i will definitely be starting in september or october and will work on just one or two projects, instead of thinking "hey! that's a good idea for a gift!" at the last minute and adding that to my "cadre." it was much more work than i had anticipated. though i'm trying to be a reformed pessimist, i always underestimate how long something is going to take me. i am of the genus "craftest optimisto."

here is what i made to give*:

• scented sugars. two variations: one with organic ginger and one with organic fig. included a waffle recipe.
• organic roasted tomatoes with olive oil and basil.
• preserved lemon. include this recipe (can't wait to try it; need to buy the whole book i think). didn't realize that these need to steep for about 30 days. duly noted on the tag. whoops.
• brownies from bittman's book.
• those organic pumpkin oatmeal cookies.
• organic, vegan pet treats (for dogs and cats!).
• body scrubs.
• notecards.
• gift tags for wrapping.

here is what was made by wonderful artists:

• the kimono!
• hand-knit scarfs. made-to-order and already well-loved! i am kicking myself for not taking a picture before i gave them! argh.
• colouring book. so beautiful, i almost didn't want to give them out to the kids. ("don't color that! it's a piece of art!")
• soy candles. there are a number of excellent reasons to "go soy" with your candles and this is a great source for them. my friend who is rather sensitive to scents said that these do not bother her in the least! good stuff.

hope all of you had a good holiday! can't wait to see what you were given.

ps wish the photos were better, but no new camera was to be had this holiday. :(

*i am planning on selling some items in my new shop when it opens, so i'll keep you posted!

happy {?} day.

note: picture from last year, as we had no tree this year (how sad is that?!).

friday favorites.

here are my friday favorites for this week, a tiny preview of all that will be 50-75% in just about 48 hours from now. please note: this entry is, in fact, a christmas miracle since i believe i am suffering from strep throat, still have about 17 presents to make — and wrap! — for tomorrow, we don't have a christmas tree and my cat just puked about eight inches from my face. yay! christmas!

• cool christmas cards. how great are these cards? if i didn't create my own digital card out of sheer laziness (handwriting? stamps? post office?), i would have bought these. shout out to justjenn who mentioned giant robot the other day. $12.95 for 10.

• a $100-dollar stocking. sure i am allergic to wool, but the design! i think i would slip my foot into one of these they are so great. love the skull version (simply a steal at just $76). i imagine they would suit a "teen" just fine. $96.

• creature. isn't this the thing from that bugs bunny cartoon? you know, the one in which bugs floats down the river? the one with the eveeel scientist? i loved that cartoon. $30.

• radko finial. your tree will be the bestest on the block topped with this finial. pretty awesome, huh? $92 (but it's collectible!).

• felt wreath. i bet one of you crafty crafters out there could make this. $29.

photo credits: giant robot; hable construction; plain mabel; neiman marcus; plum party.

i hate this.

we finally went to see "harry potter" yesterday afternoon (loved it) and mid-movie, a pack of white-hairs came in and scooted and excused-me their way to the center of the theater. about 15 minutes later, one of them pipes up with a "i hate this" and they proceeded to scoot and excuse-me their way right out of the theater.

the thing that cracked me up was that they were clearly movie-hopping. how great is that?

friday favorites.

here are my favorites for this week:

• tissue ring. i've been wanting to rid myself of the tissue cover that "graces" our bathroom counter, but haven't quite found anything that sends me. this, however, does. i'm fairly certain i could do the same thing with something found at my local hardware store, but this one is pretty. $18.

• perty scarf. i'm all about the thin scarf lately. i've got a couple from american apparel (note: never, ever order online from them), but this one! well! from an independent artist! to die! $28.

• packing tape that's got it going on. don't laugh. i need this (the grid one, that is). $6.

• moonbeam clock. love the retro feel of this clock, especially since i've sent our ugly digital one to live under our bed. $36.

• peruvian-made romper. seriously. how cute is this? (and öko-tex-certified!) apparently, everyone else thought so, too because it's sold out. $48.

photo credits: vessel; alena hennessy; fred flare; l.l. bean; hanna andersson.

menu for hope ii.

feeling particularly give-y? check out a menu for hope ii, a fundraiser with a (lemon) twist. donate just $5 and enter a raffle to win your choice of a plethora of interesting and diverse food-related prizes. and the more you donate, the more chances you have to win (e.g. donate $20 and enter the raffle for four different prizes).

all donations go to benefit earthquake victims in the kashmir region of india and pakistan via unicef. i feel that the earthquake victims have really not received all we can give and this is an optimum time and way to make a difference, especially with winter coming on. in fact, according to "the new york times," many of the survivors are "...preparing for the harsh himalayan winter by digging graves before the ground freezes."

please donate what you can.

ec is not pc?

apparently, target has a big problem with birth control and emergency contraception (ec). methinks this has to do with their political leanings, which is enough to boycott them on that basis alone. however, i just found out that a tarzhay pharmacist refused to fill an ec prescription earlier this year. despite attempts by planned parenthood to get them to change their ways (a la kmart and cvs), target has yet to do so. therefore, even though i know boycotting doesn't make a huge difference economically, i will add them to my "black list." if you support a woman's right to have unlimited access to birth control, won't you contact target and let them know? or if you'd like to join in protest, see if you can boycott them and support your local retailers instead.

friday favorites.

here are my favorites for this week:

• cute ipod case. i love the colors on this! tcfw! $15.

• hemp yoga mat. my better half says that all things hemp are banned in our home due to their patchouli-wearing constituents (does he realize i'm a vegan?), however, i'm dying to get rid of my rubber mat and this just might do the trick. $49.

• glass bead bracelet. all the items at this shop are made by women in afghanistan. i am coveting their clothing, but this bracelet also stands-out. just beautiful. $36.

• undersea mobile. the blissen stuff just rocks. i want to be her. $6.50.

• festive collar. it's holiday time and it's also haley's birthday tomorrow. don't you think santa paws should bring her a little something? $32 (but she's worth it).

• owl teapot. ah. the power of direct mail marketing. i received my first gump's catalog of the year and i remembered just how much i admire their buyers. if you ever have the chance, their san francisco store is fantastic. and! the employees are friendly, not neiman snooty.  $35.

photo credits: plum party; rawganique; tarsian & blinkley; cut + paste; barker and meowsky; gump's.