Holiday Gift Guide - My Etsy Faves

Here’s something you might not know about me. I am a secret Etsy shopper. Not “secret” like I wouldn’t tell you if you asked, but somehow it ends up being something that never really gets talked about. Even though I knit, I’m not all that crafty and I initially thought of the site as an online space for garage sale stuff and tea cozies. (Disclaimer: I don’t know what I tea cozie is, but it sounded like the right thing to say there…) I couldn’t have been more wrong!

Here are four of my fave places to shop in the Etsy marketplace. I’ve ordered from two of the stores multiple times, and the the other two were so impressive that I’ll definitely order from them again. I hope they help you find some unique holiday gifts.

RIPLEY WEAR

If you have pets, you NEED these collars!! I like the classic plaid ones best, but she has loads of patterns to choose from. I’ve ordered from Natalie three times now (9 collars total) and all of them have been of amazing quality. They are softer and seem lighter than collars you can find in stores, and have never ripped or broken open on us. The Glitter Pups and Kittens love them! 

f

TINY COTTAGE DESIGNS

I’ve ordered three necklaces from Tiny Cottage. All have been beautiful, delicate little pieces of art. No joke - I think I’ve worn this bee necklace every day for six months. It’s just perfect.

TAGS BY HOLLY

I couldn’t believe that this didn’t exist before I ordered it. Because I love Clueless, I really wanted a keychain that says, “You’re a virgin who can’t drive.” Holly stamped it for me and it turned out so well. On top of that, her prices are so reasonable I want to order personalized gifts for everyone on my holiday gift list!

KOVERED 

I cannot say enough good things about my iPad case. It’s so beautiful. So practical. So strong. This shop has great customer service, have green initiatives (they plant trees and fully recyclable packaging), and their products just look so GORGEOUS. 

Lost & Found

Lost. Most days I just feel lost. I was certainly not living a perfect life in LA, but I’m finding it very hard to make any life progress here at home. Even simple tasks seem fraught with drama and it’s making me paralyzed, unable to move forward or even breathe. I feel like everything I had pushed away or thought I had gotten over is popping up all over the place and it hurts. It's scary.

The hard truth is I was happier in California. I was more myself there. I can say that here in this space, something I definitely can’t do in my everyday life. They’re so freaking happy I’m home, and they assume I’m happy too. Don’t get me wrong - I am happy, I guess? Or, maybe a better word for what I’m feeling is grateful? I’m grateful I can help my mother, I’m grateful I’m getting to see everyone’s kids grow up, I’m grateful to experience seasons again.

But finding the right job in this city? Much more challenging than I thought. Finding the things I like to do? Food I want to eat? Really hard. I spend so much time worrying about hurting the people I love and how to not blow through my savings that there’s no time to think about the future. My future. Here.  

Part of the problem is that I think I assumed it’d all be so simple. That I’d fit right back into my old life with ease. But I’m a different person than I was when I left. This life is an old wool sweater - super comfy, but a little tight and scratchy. And holy tamoley, is it itching right now!

I think I just have to let it go. Take it off, put it all down, and start fresh. Get to know everyone and everything as I am now and not just autopilot off the past.

Here goes nothing… xo

This Is What I've Been Saying...

Broken Heart

When it rains, it pours?

In April, the older Glitter Pup - my first baby - suddenly passed away. Just typing the words still makes me cry. I had just started to come to grips with my younger pup’s cancer when he decided to quietly slip away in the same resolute way that he lived his life, i.e. he was determined to be first :) 

Don't get me wrong... I love all my animals, but his absence has left a Grand Canyon-sized hole in my heart. I liken it to the way parents love their kids. You love them all equally, but have a different relationship with each. We had been together the longest and living without him still feels unthinkable most days. I find myself looking for him in the house or when we’re on walks. It just doesn’t feel normal to be without him.

I got him when I was in my early 20s, and we grew up together. He helped teach the other glitter animals our house rules, was the one to curl up next to me at night (the other three take turns now), and taught me absolutely everything about patience and caring for someone more than myself. He was my best friend.

When he first passed away, I couldn't even think about it without full-on ugly crying. (Sorry if you were the guy sitting next to me on that airplane Easter weekend. I apologize for the uncomfortable amount of tears, snot, and Kleenex you witnessed for six hours.)

Lately, however, I've been thinking about all the life lessons the G brood has taught me. Here are a few:

1      LIVE IN THE MOMENT – This one comes courtesy of Glitter Pup #2. She’s been so stoic about losing her bestie. I truly believe that she is sad, but she is definitely back to business as usual. I’m still a mess, but I think she has the right idea. We’re alive now and should make the most of every day.

2      SOMETIMES STEALTH WORKS/TIMING IS EVERYTHING – When Glitter Pup #1 was about 2, he was allowed in the dining room during Christmas dinner. He sat at the edge of the table, getting tons of praise for being such a good boy. Then, when everyone was talking/laughing/distracted he quietly stood on his hind legs and stole one piece of ham off of a platter. It is still the funniest thing that has ever happened at a family dinner.

3      THERE IS ALWAYS ROOM FOR MORE LOVE – I never set out to have four animals. Only Glitter Pup #2 was a planned addition. The other three came into my life in random ways. Each time I was so nervous, but it always has worked out and I’m so incredibly grateful for each one of them. They were meant to be a part of our family and have taught me to approach life with a more open heart.

To my little man, you were the biggest heart wrapped up in a tiny beagle body. I miss you every single second of every single day.

Morning Reading

Two things you should know about me - 1) I love Silicon Valley & 2) I love food.

This makes me so happy!
https://food52.com/blog/19747-pinterest-just-launched-a-shazam-for-food

Weekly: Maintenance

Basic.

Have You Tried This?

I saw the Olay Skin Advisor in a magazine when I was getting my hair done, and had to do it! It's a little silly, but really fun. (And I like that it thinks I'm five years younger than I really am 😏)

Let me know if you try it out!

When Did This Happen?

Not that I haven't always liked Top Shop, but seriously? When did they get such great shoes?

This is the pair that started me looking, but they're kinda pricey.

Then I saw these... Not normally my style, but they also tie up the ankle and seem fun for summer. Also, they're more affordable. 

Then I saw this pair.  So simple and classic!

                                                                 

These are just HOT.

                                                                 

I'm obviously not going to buy them all, but I can't decide between the middle two pairs. I think I'd get a lot of use out of both. Decisions!

Thoughts on 13 Reasons Why...

Just finished 13 Reasons Why on Netflix. I had the time to binge it, but couldn't bring myself to. It was too rough and emotionally draining. It was perfectly imperfect, and should be required viewing (including the Beyond The Reasons feature) for anyone with or who works with teenagers. High school can be an unforgiving place, and this series captured the essence of it so very well.

There are a lot of tough-to-watch moments in this series, and I'm sure some will argue that these things don't need to be seen on screen. Their reasons are definitely understood, however, I'm wondering now if it wasn't a good thing that the creative team covered them in such a graphic way? By their very nature, these events are terribly painful. I think it's good to feel that once in awhile - that uncomfortableness, the rawness -  of those moments. It changes you.

I was horrified, then sobbing. But, as the credits rolled I was left with one feeling: Be kinder.

What would our world be like if we were all a little nicer to others and a little less self-serving? I'd be willing to bet we'd all be be better off. At the very least, I think we owe it to ourselves to try.

Deciem Skincare Is Pretty Much The Greatest Find Ever

I had been hearing rumblings online about this skincare company, Deciem, for quite awhile before I placed an order in January. They are an umbrella for 16 (from what I saw on their website) different brands and let me just tell you, I now want to try every single item they offer!

I ordered three products - one from Niod, one of the more expensive brands, and two from The Ordinary, which is much more budget-friendly. All three are in very sleek, clean packaging. None have crazy scents or made me break out. And, most importantly, they all work insanely well.

I love the philosophy behind The Ordinary - "Clinical Formulations with Integrity." Their products are full of tried and true ingredients. Nothing too out-of-the-box, just simple formulas that produce good results. The retinoid I bought (for $10, btw) is the same level as prescribed by my dermatologist, and the moisturizer (around $6) is chock full of lipids and hyaluronic acid.

 I ended up buying Hydration Vaccine ($55) from Niod, the more clinical and "fancier" brand in the range. I loved to see that it was vegan and a had neutral pH, but put it in my cart because it claimed to help skin look 20 years younger :) No joke - I stopped reading the description at that line and didn't see that it had some silicone in it. Because of that, I use it in the morning and it is seriously is the best priming moisturizer ever. It's just perfect. I literally find myself touching my face after I use it because it feels so... nice? I can't describe it but it's so good!

Now that I'm in my 30s, I'm obsessed with skincare and cannot say enough good things about these products. I don't know about you, but cutesy packaging only does so much for me. I mean, it's nice to look at and I like it a lot, but I want things that actually live up to their (mostly self-professed) claims.   Deciem is so worth it. You get so much bang for your buck. Definitely check them out!

Returning.

Hi there.

It's been awhile. I've missed this space and hope you've missed me, too.

Where to begin? I was so happy to home with my family this winter. The end of the 2016 had been rough, and I was looking to make some changes and regain some balance. I had planned to go back to LA (where I live) in January, but two days before I planned to leave, my mom got very sick. The next two months are a blur of doctor's appointments, ER visits, and medications. I took a job on a pilot in Chicago (where I'm from & where I am now) during that period because I needed/wanted to go back to work, and even though she was mostly recovered, she still needed some help. Everything seemed fine. The plan was to finish the job and head back to California.

Then, 5 weeks ago, everything changed. The younger of the Glitter Pups was diagnosed with lymphoma. If you knew me in real life, you would know I live for my dogs. They are the first faces that I see in the morning and the last I see at night. They are my best friends. I like people and all, I just love my dogs more ;) And so, when one of them is given 4-6 weeks to live, it broke me.

Even if you're not a dog person, I've bet you've been where I am now. In one of those spaces in between the present and the future, where every moment seems to matter so much and yet nothing seems real. I wake up wondering if every day is her last day while simultaneously Googling cancer treatment protocols and random vitamins that might make her live longer, all while not sleeping to make sure she's still breathing - I generally feel nuts.

I feel it in my bones that what's happening now is one of those things that will divide my life into a "before" and "after." I know it. My heart is totally shattered. And, most days, the words just aren't coming. Who am I kidding? Most days I can barely breathe.

So, please bear with me. I'll try my best to not be so absent. I have a pretty big backlog of posts to finish up, but I'll post them as soon and as often as I can. I've been holding on to so many exciting things. I can't wait to share them with you!


Thanks for being understanding & all my love,
G.

Bookshelf

Considering that a good chunk of my time has been spent waiting in doctors' offices lately, I feel like I should be reading more than I actually am right now. Here's what I finished last week:

The Girls in the Garden is beautifully written and a little surprising. The graphic novel was just for fun. (If you haven't read the actual book, STOP EVERYTHING YOU'RE DOING and start reading it!! NOW!!) 

   

Here is what I'm reading now:

I lovelovelove Jennifer Weiner's work, and was super excited to start this memoir. Originally, I started with written book, but stopped and checked out the audio version from the library (via Overdrive) instead. She reads it and it's endeared her to me even more.

This one is from Book of the Month. The blurb sounded awesome and I wanted to give it a try. It's a little too early to tell, but great so far.

Morning Reading

UM, this looks ah-mazing! I don't even like carrot cake and I want to bake this, like today...

(photo: Mary Catherine Tee)

Currently...

52 Weeks of Gratitude - Week 12 - Your Favorite Personality Trait

The personality trait that I love most in others is the ability to make people laugh. Those magic souls that can turn crap situations into gold with a joke, a funny face, a smile... I envy them, I admire them, and most of all I appreciate them because they make every situation better. We all need more laughter in our lives. Always.

My favorite trait that I myself possess is directness. If I'm being totally honest, I spend a lot of energy trying NOT to tell people what I really think. But, if someone asks (and sometimes even if they don't), I just lay it all out there. No sugar coating. That being said, when I do speak my mind, I've been told I do it in a way that doesn't offend and makes people think. That's good, right?

Morning Reading

I want it! Well, maybe not the clock, but all of the spaces in the post are freaking beautiful. Definitely worth checking out.

via desire to inspire

52 Weeks of Gratitude - Week 11 - Someone Who Inspires You

My Auntie Dorothy inspires me more that anyone else I know. She's 99 (ah-mazing!!!), and just the best person in the entire world. When I was a kid, she was always up for adventures, and as she's aged she handled every challenge with absolute grace. Case in point - She has macular degeneration, and when she started to lose her vision she never complained once. She just ordered a magnifying machine to help her read.

I've learned by her example that how you choose to react to things determines a lot about how they turn out. She's shown me that by being calm and facing life with open eyes, things fall together the way that they are meant to. I can only hope that I can continue to follow her lead and make her proud.

52 Weeks of Gratitude - Week 10 - List 5 Things You Like About You

Disclaimer: I'm doing my best to stay on a regular posting schedule, but my mom is really sick and my time is no longer my own. I'm trying, but sometimes when you're in a sea of doctor's appointments and hospital visits, words don't come so easily right now.

ANYWAY...

1) I'll start with an easy one :)... My eyes are hazel green, and I have a brown stripe in my left one. One of my cousins has the same stripe in her left eye as well, and I like to think that it bonds us.

2) I'm loyal. I love fiercely. Even though I've been burned, I hold onto a quote from Wayne Dyer - "How people treat you is their karma; How you react is yours." It speaks to my soul!! I'm definitely not a doormat or blind to bad things that happen, but I think there's something to be said for realizing that you are in charge of your behavior. Just because someone treats you badly or is just a complete asshat doesn't mean you have to respond in the same way.

3) I'm a prankster. Anyone who knows me will tell you I lovelovelove pranks. I decorate friends' lawns/coworkers' offices for their birthdays, surprise ppl for random reasons, and once even switched out two of my coworkers' office furniture (i.e. them discovering it was the BEST morning ever). I never do anything mean, I swear. I just love smiles and sound of laughter. They make life so much more fun. And, life is short. You gotta celebrate what and when you can, even if it's just a Thursday.

4) I'm obsessed with my animals. True story. I prefer them to most people.

5) Probably the most random thing, but I'm hyper-organized and always prepared. You need a Bandaid or a Tide pen? Ask me. I got you.

Weekly: Maintenance

Current nails shot while working (along with a kitten scratch on my pinkie...). Just two abstract lines on a base of OPI's Rosy Future (bottom third) and Nails, Inc's Porchester Square (top two thirds of the nail). Not my best work, but not bad either.

Morning Reading

I want to live in all of these. So beautiful.















via desire to inspire

Winter Skin Saviors

Hi Guys!
Here are three products that have been getting my skin through this winter season!

Whole Foods Dry Skin Hand Cream - Can you tell I love it? One of the littles is for my bag, one is a back up, and the big tube is for home. It's so thick but not at all greasy, and both scents are fresh but not overpowering. It's the best cream I've ever tried and is seriously like $3.

Revlon Kiss Balm - Newest addition to this group.  Can you see how flat the top is already? I've only had it about a week. It's so good.

belief  The true cream -  I really like this moisturizer. It absorbs quickly and doesn't have much of a scent. It claims to last 26 hours, and while I'm not totally sure about that, it does leave my skin feeling hydrated all day.

52 Weeks of Gratitude - Week 9 - How Did You Do & Feel?

Well, last week didn't exactly go as planned...

I had the best of intentions, but only did two of the three things. (I didn't babysit because my mom ended up being much sicker than first expected and I didn't want to get anyone else sick.) However, since "taking care of mom" ended up being much more intensive than first expected, maybe it counts for two things?

How do I feel? SO. DARN. CONFLICTED. I was supposed to go back to LA on the 9th, and that obviously didn't happen. I haven't really felt homesick at all since I got here in October, but crap. The last two days have been torture. I want to pack up and drive off asap. And yet, I'm so grateful I'm here to care for my mom.

That's enough for me right now. I'll figure the rest out later. (Fingers crossed?)

That Hygge Life

Hygge is a Danish lifestyle concept that is full of greatness and, even if you've never heard of it, is completely necessary for your life.

While hygge can be a little tricky to pronounce, it's super easy to achieve. (In case you're curious how to say it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FL7p2NkAJss) There's no direct translation in English, but in How To Hygge, Signe Johansen describes it as a feeling of coziness, kinship, and conviviality. Isn't that just the best word ever?

My fascination with hygge began last fall when I visited Stockholm. (I know - Stockholm is in Sweden and not Denmark, but the idea is definitely present there even if they don’t use the word.) I spent a week walking around this beautiful city & ended up falling completely in love with it. The energy was calmer, but still positive and fun.  It was so different than Los Angeles and I made it my mission to incorporate hygge into my daily life as much as I could when I came home.

Since that trip, I've Googled, read a ton of books, followed a bunch of new Insta accounts (this one is my fave: https://www.instagram.com/hyggelife/). Now, it’s a full-blown obsession. 

Here are my personal keys to achieving hygge on the daily:

CANDLES        

Because it got darker much earlier in Sweden, homes and restaurants all lit tons of candles at dusk, giving the whole world a soft glow. I’d be walking to dinner and was struck by all these families taking time to be together, just strolling around in the warm light. I know I’m romanticizing it, but it was truly lovely.  Now, I light candles whenever and wherever I can. They're a relatively inexpensive way to make everything prettier, they smell good, and there’s something comforting about having them burning. So, light 'em up!

GET OUTSIDE

Scandinavians are the freaking happiest people on the planet, and I'm convinced it's because they're so active - especially outdoors. Even though most of us can't snowboard or ski daily, just taking a ten minute walk can make the biggest difference in your mindset. Do it, and do it often. I know the Glitter Pups are much happier now because they get way more (albeit sometimes shorter, oddly timed) walks. I just take them whenever I can, even if it's just around the block. It's made a huge difference for all of us.

COFFEE

I'm half Swedish, and coffee hour was "fika" in our house when I was growing up.  Fika is also a big part of hygge. Warm drinks, yummy snacks, and chatting with friends are all good for the soul, and making a point to do it daily is important.

I try to make it special, even if I'm just making coffee for myself at home. I use a pretty mug an choose either something homemade or from the bakery section to snack on. Nothing fancy or expensive, just something not preprocessed.

EMBRACE THE SIMPLE

This is what I love most about this whole thing - it's so easy. You don't need to buy any special equipment or exotic ingredients to make this happen. I mean, if you need a reason to buy cozy sweaters, slippers, and great coffee, here it is. No question about it. But it really is more of a mental thing than a physical one. Complex and overblown have no place in this way of being, and that's what makes it perfection.

Please let me know if this inspired you at all and if you've been able to work any of these into your lives! If you did, what happened?