nest egg

I come bearing gifts...

Here comes Christmas...

like a freight train.

My mom keeps calling me "Will you PLEASE just tell me what you want for Christmas?"

I've been avoiding it because my real answer is: NOTHING. I really don't need anything. But I also know that that answer will make any mother go insane 1 week before the holidays. !! <insert train horn>

So, fashionably late, I came up with a few ideas.

(And mom, I do NOT expect any of these to show up under the tree. This is just for fun.:)

1. Honeycomb artwork by my good friend Laura Roebuck

2. Patagonia Pouch

3. Rustic Leather Notebook/{or Diary}-depends on the day

4. Diptyque candle- this scent makes me crazy it's so good

5. Turquoise necklace

6. Foldover clutch

7. Jeffrey Bilhuber's latest book

8. OK I cheated and already got this for myself but the new Black Keys album is amazing. Gold on the ceiling. 

9. Some new jeans from Imogene and Willie- their new Elizabeth cut is higher in the waist and so flattering. These jeans are the real deal- they last forever and keep getting better with every wear. Most of my other jeans live the opposite life. 

10. Shagreen iphone cover

11. The Diana mini-camera- Cuz she's so darn cute. Who wouldn't smile for pictures if they're looking at her?

12. Jewelry travel organizer- (see #5 and #14) 

13. Cognac clogs from the Perfect Pair in Nashville

14. Gold feather ring

15. Cococozy throw blanket- pretty colors and they are really soft!

16.  Stemless wine glasses- handbuilt porcelain pottery from two of my favorite artists and friends- The Cravens out of Foxfire, VA. (I could go on but that's for another blog post) I love these wine glasses and could use a few more to add to my collection! 

Or you can always give back! There's never a better gift. Check out my favorite charities under "Share your nest."

I know the train is around the corner and everyone is frantically trying to pull off Christmas miracles to make everything perfect for the weekend-- but don't forget to love on each other. :)

Hope for Haiti.... and Nashville too.

Most of the time on this blog I love to talk about pretty, beautiful interiors and how much I love my job (I do). But there are other times when I can't bring myself to talk about table skirts and lamps- and all I want to do is adopt an orphan, save puppies from puppy mills, build a school, feed the homeless, pretty much-   change the world. (Sounds like a reasonable side job ??) Because while most people just want to change a few things in their homes, there are plenty of people out there who don't even have one.

I continue to juggle these two worlds (don't we all??) and since there seems to be a lot of NEED going around lately I want to share a few ways to help. 

First: Nashville.

Even though the water has gone down people are still without homes. Their cherished belongings are now a soaking pile of trash in their front yard. And most people have gotten the news that insurance will not cover the damage! They need all the help they can get. Here are a few unique ways to give back:

 
You can show your support and getting a cool poster! Win/Win. Click HERE to see others.

The first one with the guitar is my favorite- at the bottom it reads "Love your neighbor". Could be a year-round piece of art!

I also just saw over at Style Blueprint that you can actually EAT OUT (TONIGHT ONLY!) in Nashville to support the cause.  A huge list of restaurants have agreed to donate 50% of tonight's meals to the Flood Relief!   Are you kidding??? (I  Nashville.)

 Click HERE to read more and get the full list of restaurants. And go EAT!

While we are on the subject of still needing help in a big way...

 

Haiti.

This upcoming weekend I am helping with a fundraiser one of my dear friends is putting on in Nashville. It is actually a sale. (The magic word around here!) It is a supporting Haitian women and children through a program called Centre Lumiere. This self-help program provides income for hundreds of women, and teaches them about the bible, health, and home ec skills- primarily: sewing. They are given a chance to provide for their families and more importantly- they are given HOPE.

 
Ever since the earthquake their community has been flooded with refugees. With the increase in orphans the women are caring for 5-10 more people than they normally would. !! Can you imagine 7 more kids showing up at your house one day? ... and then staying?

So needless to say- they, also, need ALL the help they can get. And we can support these women and children by buying some of their beautiful hand made items at the sale. (including pillows, dish towels, aprons, hats, purses, table linens, etc.)

  

Here is all the info:

So if you are in the Nashville area this weekend please come by!

*If you can't make it to the sale and would like to make a donation to support this cause, you can send donations to: Beth Jones; 5008 Wyoming Avenue, Nashville, TN 37209

Write checks to: "Loving Shepherd Ministries" and write "haiti" in the memo line.

 Thank you for listening. Tomorrow I will be back with burlap.

 Did I mention I like to juggle?

for more information on Centre Lumiere in Haiti click here.

  
  
   

 

Share your Nest

When hearing and reading about the conditions in Haiti I feel totally helpless. 

But there is still hope. And there are ways to help...

I have added a list of links on the right hand side of the blog under the heading "Share Your Nest." I encourage you to click through them and consider donating to any of these organizations. 

 

Share.

In the hustle and bustle of the holiday season it's hard to keep grounded... atleast for me. The pace is so hectic, the shopping, the traffic, the ticking time bomb of buying gifts!! I find it to be alot like wedding planning. You can easily get so tied up in the details that you forget what you're even celebrating! The week before Christmas always tends to stress me out and keep me distracted from the REAL reason for the season. Instead of making a list of what I don't have I should be making a list of what I DO have. 

On this blog I talk and dream about the concept of HOME. The safe haven. The familiar smell. The one place you feel truly comfortable...  Your home.    Now can you imagine what it's like to not have one? When I think about the millions of people in the world without a place to call home I get weak in the knees...

So this Christmas I encourage you (and  MYSELF) to share your nest egg with those who have never had one. 

Here are a few gifts that I would never regret giving:

give freedom,

Fight for justice for those who can't fight for themselves by donating to The International Justice Mission, 

give a voice,

stop puppy mills by donating to The Humane Society (yes, I had to put that picture)

give hope,

 help to end world hunger by giving to Heifer International

give education,

Give someone a Mekong Blue scarf and change the lives of others! More info here. 

give a shoebox,

 Donate to Operation Christmas Child to bring joy to someone's life this season.

give presence*,

As much as your family or friends might drive you crazy during the holidays be present this year. Spend quality time with the people that you love.

LAST BUT LEAST $

give prayer.

 

This Christmas pray for those around the world that are less fortunate than we are. I truly think it's the best gift we can give. 

There are SO many wonderful organizations out there!! I could go on forever. Feel free to share one of your favorites in the comments below.

I hope you all have a great weekend..

 <note from Children's Letters to God, (that adorable book!!) and last image from Martha Stewart>