Favorites List 2010

In general, I'm not all about "stuff". I've become a little green in my old age (haha) and have adopted the recycle/repurpose/reinvent motto that has become so popular. I try to be conservative with my purchases and if I see something I can't live without, I usually try to either create it myself (which doesn't always work out) or find it second-hand. Now, don't get me wrong, I have my fair share of designer jeans and Coach bags-- there are things even this thrifty girl won't compromise on. So in the spirit of "sometimes you just need cool stuff", here are a few of my favorite things from the past year. If you're really interested (and I don't know why you would be), here is the list from 2009. Now then, my 2010 Favorites List!

Etsy (Specifically: Jewelry on Etsy)

More specifically: Stella Jade, Fancybelle Boutique, and Simple Serendipity. Sarah, of Stella Jade, is a blog friend of mine who actually lives half a country away and is one of the sweetest people I know (but don't really know). She saw a book on my wish list on my blog's side bar and offered to send me her copy when she was done-- then she ended up buying me a copy from Amazon. So thoughtful! Her jewelry is super cute and SUPER affordable and more than once I've ordered gifts and *almost* kept them for myself.

Hand stamped jewelry has been really popular for a while and I've wanted a necklace every since I was pregnant with Mason. After losing the baby in October I finally ordered a simple disc from Fancybelle Boutique with my favorite verse, Jeremiah 29:11, and one birthstone for Mason and one for the other baby on it. I wear it every day and is the (second) most meaningful piece of jewelry I own. Love.

Finally, Simple Serendipity just has some fun pieces that are WAY cheap. You can totally justify buying several items because they are so cute and inexpensive.

The moral of the story? Shop Etsy. Support handmade and small business. Maybe make a friend or two along the way.

Gap's Real Straight denim

These are the skinny jeans for those of us who have resisted the skinny jean craze because we think you have to be skinny to wear skinny jeans. (Can I fit the word "skinny" in there one more time? Skinny skinny skinny.) Ain't No Mom Jeans suggested the Gap Real Straight jean and I pretty much bought them immediately. Side note: If you don't already read ANMJ, you're missing out. Unless you have fashion sense (unlike me), then you could probably be a contributor for ANMJ. Or start your own fashion blog (Heidi).

Shutterfly
Besides the free photo storage, Shutterfly is constantly offering me free stuff. My 2010 Christmas cards were free, thanks to a blog promo. Then, for sharing my Christmas card on this blog, they gave me $25 to spend on other Shutterfly stuff. I've gotten free photo books (which made awesome grandparent gifts last year) and you can always find promos going on. Thanks, Shutterfly.

Bikram Yoga
Hot yoga. As in, yoga done in an extremely HOT room. Like over 100 degrees. It's sweaty. It's intense. It's an hour and a half class at the studio I go to. Bikram yoga is very challenging but so amazingly cleansing-- physically and mentally. You can burn up to 800 calories per class and I swear you sweat out every single toxin in your body. I think everyone should try it. (Full disclosure: I have no sense of smell, so a bunch of sweaty people in close proximity in a non-ventilated room does not bother me. Just sayin'. Consider that.)

Trader Joe's Well Red Organic Wine
There had to be something TJ's in my list, since that is where I can be found twice a week. Matt recently warned a friend of his who was rummaging through our refrigerator that, "Everything in there is healthy and from Trader Joe's". Anyway, the Well Red is about $6 a bottle and is sulfite-free. I'm totally a sucker for clever-- and the name "Well Red" appeals to my nerdy appreciation for vocabulary and a play on words. Aside from that, it's the perfect wine for a mild, it's-been-a-long day glass at the end of the night. Add to that a packet of their dark chocolate peppermints and O.M.G. Heaven.

So there you go. I hope you found something new or will commit to trying something new in the next year. Now, do tell: What are a few of your favorite things?

Mason's take on Christmas decor

"Santa, get up."

You know, it's one of those inflatable lawn characters. Deflated. Mason was pretty concerned about Santa's well being on our front lawn. So funny.

Saturday Smile

Freeze!

When I wasn't looking, Mason peeled off his church bag tag and stuck it over his mouth last weekend. In an effort to snap a picture before he took it off, I told him to put his hands up.

I almost made this a "You caption" post, but the look on his face suggested it would be a good idea to explain. I wasn't holding my child hostage. At least in this photo...

Hide and Seek

I've got to say, that is the cutest thing I think I've ever found under the bed.