Five Things

Well, peeps, it's happening. The holiday storm is a-brewin'. 'Cause tonight, I officially started generating ideas for holiday gifts.

(I'll pause here for a moment of dramatic reflection.)

Okay...I'm back. And currently sitting next to a pile of random scraps I cut out of two magazines that helped me kick things off. (And, yes, I am aware that the real news bulletin here should be the fact that I just took the time to read two magazines (well, one for sure--if you count skimming as "reading," and the second one was kinda sorta half read/skimmed, but still!).

Now, I'm thinking the gift idea brewing has forced me into a random these-are-some-of-my-current-favorite-things mood, because tonight, without further ado (is that the correct word?), here are five things I'm currently loving, in no particular order (except for the first, which is definitely the most important):

1. My Kid

'Nough said.

2. Helen Hunt

I know. This one sounds beyond random. But just stick with me for a second.

In last week's issue of People magazine, she was interviewed regarding a new movie (Sessions) that she's staring in. And the interviewer asked her why she stepped out of the spotlight in 2000, after Cast Away. And her reply?

"I gave birth to a whole human being."

I absolutely, completely love that response. She didn't just say, "I had a kid." She let the world (or at least me) know in one simple sentence, just how momentous child bearing/rearing is in her opinion. And it made me love her all the more. And I was a fan before.

3. Domestic Calculations

I saw this in Real Simple, and it simultaneously cracked me up and made me want to ask my husband for a raise--ha. I'll post it large so the text is readable.

4. Bookmarks

My dear friend, Lisa, gave me this bookmark at my baby shower back in May. And I finally remembered to bust it out and add a photo. It makes me smile like a fool, every time I look at it.

5. Collages

This last (but certainly not least) item is also one that makes me smile. But it's a sentimental and slightly wistful smile this time.

As you all probably know from reading my posts, one of the greatest joys of my first months with Baby Girl was our reading/napping time. And 'cause I'm a first-time mom who takes a thousand pictures on my phone each day, I'd accumulated a healthy load of nap time pictures. And I wanted to do something with them before I lost all motivation.

Enter Groupon.

One day a few weeks ago, they posted a significant discount for a canvas from Collage.com, and the following was born:

My substandard phone pic doesn't do it justice, but you get the idea.


Okay, that's all of my randomness for now. I hope you all have your holiday gift idea juices flowing, too. That way, I won't have to feel like the only crazy who needs to marinate for months before coming up with something for everybody on my list!