Sylvia's Favorite Things

I am adding a "Favorite Things" post this year.  I've been doing Christmas shopping at various parts of town like "the Junction", U-Village, and Ballard where my sister took me for lunch and shopping the other day.  I admit, I am a shopper. Always have been, always will be.  So, living in Seattle again where there is ultimate shopping, I'm in heaven this holiday season.  Of course, most is "window-shopping" since I still have an aversion to getting more stuff after our move.  But I love looking at everything, it just makes me feel warm and fuzzy inside.  Now, I take pictures of everything I like.  And I've been seeing trends like all the cute laser-cut wooden holiday items like the above scene.  I just love that look.  I've always loved wooden decorations, from clear back in my early 20's.  My taste hasn't changed much in 40 years...My very first Christmas ornaments were wooden ornaments from Mr. Peepers at U-Village and I still have them, still get them out every Christmas, still hang them on the tree, still admire how precious they are.
  

Back in the 70's they were not laser-cut like todays beautiful holiday decorations.

I just love the look so much I did buy two trees to go on our fireplace mantel.

You can find wooden laser-cut decorations at various places including Crate and Barrel.

I also love the intricate, folded cards I've seen.

These were all over the place in Japan when we were there last year.  The Japanese are way ahead of us in this area. I bought of couple of them when we were there to bring home and I love them, therefore I'm putting them on my Favorite Things list. 

These folded snow globes were pretty close to the ones I loved in Japan.

You can get them here: Up With Paper and Fireworks
Speaking of snow globes, I've always loved snow globes ever since I was little. You don't see them around a lot in stores anymore. I bought a new one this year, a woodsy theme.

The santa is surrounded by woodland animals.  I always have a weakness for animal scenes.

You can buy one here: Fireworks

You know I love anything in jars. I often post recipes in jars. With all my canning, I just love jars. Aren't these jars just perfect?   Especially since plaid is so popular this season.  And they come with screw-top lids.

I didn't buy these but you can at Nordstrom.  (Nordstrom is another one of my Favorite Things, by the way.)  Or you can buy an amaryllis to grow in jars.  What a perfect gift for the plant lover in your family who happens to love jars, like me!  

You don't even need to buy this, you can make it following these instructions.  Tie a cute little red bow around the jar and drop some colorful red berries inside for the perfect Christmas gift.  Love, love, love.

I've also seen these bud vases at various places.  You can cut a flower bud and place each individual one in it's own vase to make a bouquet.

The vases would be as gorgeous as the buds themselves. Here is where you can get a similar one: Jayson Home

 Another one of my Favorite Things are Glassybaby. 

 I went into their store at U-Village and was immediately overwhelmed. 

I've always wanted to buy a Glassbaby ever since I saw them at a friends house in Seattle years ago.  How can you not want to buy one.  Their story starts like this:

the beginning

1995

lee rhodes is diagnosed with cancer for the third time, she is a mother of three. lee remembers meeting patients in waiting rooms who could not afford day-to-day costs like bus fare, childcare and groceries during chemotherapy. while entertaining friends, she drops a tea light into a roughly hewn glass cup, and the first glassybaby is born. glassybaby is officially founded

2001

lee sells them out of her garage and donates money from sales to charities helping cancer patients heal

You can read more here. I love the story so how can you not buy one.  I want to buy, I'm just too overwhelmed.  I've seen them around town a lot like at the Starbucks Reserve Roastery and Tasting Room on Capitol Hill.

Another one of my Favorite Things is macarons. I found this book on how to make macarons and you know how much I love macarons.

But I think it would be more fun to take a class, actually.  I've seen cooking classes advertised in various places around Seattle on making macarons which I hope to do someday.  If you want to buy the book, you can buy it here:  Amazon

I think my ultimate Favorite Things are the lights on copper wire that I've seen this year everywhere. 

These are lights that are perfect when you don't want the wire to show since the copper wire is so fine.  They come in various lengths as little lights, round decorative lights, soft white lights, LED blueish white lights or colored lights. You can also get them with plug-in or battery operated.  I bought some for the mantel,

for the entry by the front door

and in the kitchen eating bar.

I can think of many more places to put them.  They look really nice inside a crystal vase or anything glass.

I thought maybe getting the battery powered type for part of the Christmas dinner table center piece.  Are candles a thing of the past?  I just love these lights.  You can buy them here: Amazon

Speaking of Christmas dinner, I love all the cute toothpicks I've seen this year.  

Now I'm trying to think of an appetizer to make just so I can buy some of these cute toothpicks. Here's where you can find some: Aliexpress

Another perfect holiday table decoration are these mini gingerbread houses I found at Anthropologie.

They are called Mug Buddy Cookies. Wouldn't these be perfect on individual dinner plates at Christmas dinner? I mean, I like making Christmas cookies, but these are too perfect. Plus, I have a soft spot for gingerbread houses...

I suppose I ought to include other items on my Favorite Things other than food and home decor.  Clothing, for example.  As far as clothing goes, my Favorite Thing here is having clothes delivered right to your doorstep that somebody else picks out for you to wear, like your personal stylist.  Wouldn't that be a dream?  Well, there is such a thing. I read about it from another dietitian food blogger (have you noticed, we often don't even blog about food anymore...)  Check out Kath Eats Real Food story about Stitch Fix.  First, you fill out a questionnaire about your style, what you like and dislike, etc. and a personal stylist will analyze you.  Soon you will receive a box of clothing to try on and you keep what you like and send back what you don't like.  You only pay for what you keep that your personal stylist sends you.  What a great idea.  Check it out or get a gift card for someone this holiday.  

That concludes my Favorite Things list.  I hope it gave you some nice gift ideas for this year.  Let me know if anything worked for you.  Happy Holiday shopping!