I'm off to spend Christmas with the fam. Happy holidays, everyone, and I'll be back in 2008.
Katrina T. sent me a link to this T-shirt from J. Crew, saying it made her think of me. It makes me think of me, too. Hoping it goes on sale...
From Sunset Magazine, four different types of cocoa in a jar. From All Recipes, many varieties of cookie mix in a jar. At Angry Chicken, already-baked cake in a jar, which could revolutionize holiday food gift-giving.
Free vector graphics, brushes, fonts, etc. can be obtained at the Vector Art blog. Which I came across at Dooce during my once-in-a-blue-moon visit to see what the most popular blogger in the world is writing about these days. Actually I'm not sure that's the most popular blog in the world, but it ranks right up there.
Now you can decorate your throne with vinyl, available from Vital's shop. I'm intrigued, but I think we'll stick to walls for now. (Ha, accidental pun.) Via Modern Cottage.
This is so yummy. The perfect warm, gooey, wintry comfort food.
If you're hosting a holiday party and need some last-minute ideas, check out the tabletop decorating themes over at Hostess with the Mostess. The image above is the "Green and Serene" scheme.
An anonymous reader recently wrote: "My husband wants to do make-or-bake Christmas and I don't really do manly crafts—do you have any ideas for what I could make for a guy?" Uh, that's a tough one. Here's the best I could come up with:
Alex teases me because I like to look in other people's houses at night. I never smoosh my face right up to their window, so what's the big deal? I stay on the sidewalk. It's not my fault people leave their curtains open so you can ogle their pianos and chandeliers. And now I've found the same thing, but online: Square America's Christmas Spectacular! A collection of old photos and postcards from other people's Christmases past. Take a look. (Via Swapatorium.)
Here's a roundup of ornaments you can make from paper.
Origami star
Origami Christmas tree 1
Look at what I found in etsy seller Blue Bell Bazaar's shop, via BB-Blog. Sigh. I am trying not to covet.
At TasteBook.com you can create a personalized cookbook of your favorite recipes. Choose your cover design, add recipes from the web or from your own stash, insert photos, and organize any way you want with colored tabs. This could be a really cool Christmas present or wedding gift.
Here's a paper ornament I made the other day during a coffee break with my downstairs neighbor. They're hanging in my office windows. The ornaments are, I mean—not my neighbors. That would be creepy. To make your own:
Big Huge Labs has an online tool that lets you upload a photo and then instantly apply your choice of border to it. Try it here.
I had a few sheets of that strange craft foam lying around, so here's my attempt to make something out of it. You can download the template I whipped up right here. 
You'll need: Foam sheets, sharp scissors, X-acto knife for cutting out holes, craft glue, string for hanging, and tape.
Well, folks, it's that time of year when the holiday party invites come rolling in. But how to gracefully back out of events you'd like to avoid? Try the Holiday Party Excuse Generator. Tell the generator about your situation, and voila! An emailable message will be generated for your host expressing your regrets.
Aesthetic Apparatus makes interesting posters and art prints you can purchase. Check them out here.
Evie of evie s. emailed me about her self-mailer you can download, print, and send to a friend. The design is perfect for the holidays. Download it here!
For a handy online tool that will turn any photo you upload into custom-sized wallpaper with a calendar, click here. You set the size, whether it's for your computer, your iPhone, or any other device, and then pick from options that let you edit your photo and position your calendar.
