Snow Globe DIY

             

If you’re a twenty-something like me you probably don’t have many Christmas decorations of your own (yet!). If you read A New Christmas Tradition you’ll know that here at WTD we’re re-vamping the holidays and are trying to make our own traditions this year. As always, we try to do things in the thriftiest way possible but that never means skimping on style, class or quality! Today's holiday DIY is a festive Anthropologie inspired snow globe!

My snow globes are hanging out on my kitchen table this year!

I was inspired to do this DIY after I found some delightful snow globes on Pinterest. They are inspired by these Anthropologie originals which are no longer available on their website. I made my snow globes at the end of the season last year so this is the first Christmas I’m actually getting to enjoy them and I have to say I just love them. They’re cute, quirky, super easy and amazingly cheap to make! The image from the original blog is a pretty self-explanatory and I basically did my own thing when making them. The blog Make Life Lovely has another awesome DIY tutorial for the same snow globes. She compares the original price of $40 Anthropologie version to the $2 it cost her to make them herself! Don't forget they're also eco-friendly if you use recycled jars and ribbon. Plus, I think the homemade ones look better anyway!

I love the charming bows!

What you’ll need:

• 3 mason jars (I chose two smaller jars and one large one you can decide what works for you)
• 3 miniature Christmas trees (I found mine at Dollarama and they are there again this year!)
• Fake Snow (I also bought at Dollarama) 
• 1 glue gun
• Ribbon (I used two pieces of red and one red and white checkered print. Use whatever you have)
• Something to raise your tree up I think I put a piece of foam under mine

  

The Instagram I posted after making them in 2012!

I didn’t take pictures of step-by-step directions as I made mine last year but they are so easy you won’t need them. Luckily, this is a popular craft so I’m going to source some photos online to help you along.

 

Step One

Take the lid off the mason jar and pull the ring away from the round disc.

Step Two

Use your hot glue gun to glue your base to the middle of the disc. Giving your tree a little height allows you to add more snow. Otherwise the snow covers the tree. Let dry.

Step Three

Glue the tree to the base. Let dry.

Step Four

Put snow into the jar. The amount will vary depending on the size of your tree and what looks best to you.

Step Five

Put it all together! Try not to spill the snow :)

Step Six

Tie ribbon around the ring.

Voila! How easy was that? Now all you have to do is find a cute spot in your home to  showcase these awesome snow globes.

If you want to get even thriftier try some variations. I like the Anthropologie salt shakers and the antique blue mason jars I found on google images!

Variations:

Salt Shaker Globes

Antique Jars

A Simple Kind of Life

You can add water like A Simple Kind of Life did. Personally, I prefer how they look without water but I realize they're not true snow globes without. If you do use water make sure to use distilled water!

A Simple Kind of Life also tried one globe with gold glitter. I like it! You could also mix glitter in with your snow for a more glamourous look! The only warning she had was that a layer of glitter does float to the top.

Kayla Danielle

Blogger Kayla Danielle used a big jar she had sitting around at home to make a super sized snow globe! If you like this look Apothecary jars can be found at many home decor stores for a reasonable price. Try Winners or Homesense.

Gorgeous display of globes!

Display your globes with a few tree trimmings for extra visual appeal!

Bring Starbucks Home with this Simple DIY

Hi folks,
So it's late on a Sunday, but I promised this post ages ago and I'm just getting to it now.
Whether you're on a tight budget this holiday or have a bunch of "ancillary" people to shop for, we've found the perfect DIY for you. It's cheap, easy, doesn't take a lot of time, but it is a knockout.
It's the Bring Starbucks Home Shower Scrub, inspired by the blog A Cup of Mo. I seriously cannot rave about this enough. It's all natural, not tested on animals, simple ingredients, made right here in Canada... I LOVE IT.  My friend gave it to me for m belated birthday and it makes the mornings MUCH more bearable!

What you'll need:
A big bowl
A plastic spoon
Pretty jars (dollar store or recycled)
Gift tag (optional)

Instructions:
I more than tripled this batch in order to make five mid-size jars for all the girlies in my life.  The important thing is to have equal amounts of coffee and sugar, and about half that amount of olive oil, and just a dash of the extras.

3 cups of coffee grounds (folgers, tim horton's, starbucks... whatever is on sale at the grocery store.)
3 cups of white sugar (people have said that you can use brown, but I have not substantiated that)
1.5 cups of olive oil (don't cheap out on the oil -- it's what makes your skin smooth!)
3 tbs ground cinnamon
1 tbs vanilla extract

Mix all ingredients in a giant bowl until very well blended - about 30 seconds (LOL).

Divide into jars: seal tightly.
Wrap with a beautiful tag and bow.

Use it to exfoliate damp or wet skin in the shower or tub. Cup of Mo says it should last two months, but mine is five months old and not stale at all.  Makes me and my shower smell like a cafe!
Note: Will make your tub kind of messy; is easily rinsed out and does not stain, but if you are like me and enjoy the chaos, leave it in there for your lover to get peeved about.  Fun times!

A new Christmas Tradition: Memories that last a Lifetime

My newest Christmas tradition may not be all that revolutionary or shocking, but it's surprising how special it feels, even though it may seem obvious to others.  It's ornaments.
Or more precisely, the thoughtful, slow, long-term collection of meaningful ornaments over the span of years. Maybe you've thought of it before or maybe it's already part of your holiday routine, but in this household, it's still kind of new and I'm determined to make it stick.
There are so many different ways you can make ornament collecting part of your holiday.  It is heartfelt and meaningful, and doesn't buy too much in to consumerism.  Every ornament has a story, and few cost more than $10.  Almost all of them were handmade.  The trick is patience, time, and a lot of thought.  Each one should be personal, should evoke a special memory.  What else could make a Christmas tree beautiful?

Leave a Legacy

It all started when my cousin was born (I wasn't even conceived yet).  My grandmother started collecting one ornament per grandchild for every year of their life.  None of us knew.  It was a well-kept secret.  She died shortly before Christmas 2006, and that year, when my family gathered, it was a subdued affair.  Fast forward a year later, and though our grief was still there and her absence still felt, we had one last surprise from her waiting under the tree.
Each of her seven grandchildren had a box brimming with ornaments-- and I don't mean plastic baubles you can get at Canadian Tire.  Each one was hand-crafted by local artists (she frequented craft shows and church bazaars) and each and every one was unique to us.  While my girlish cousin J got ornaments of shoes and jewels and cupcakes, my ornaments were of skiing mice and puppies tangled in ribbon. My hockey-loving brother got snowflakes and skates. The younger cousins had fewer: one for every year since their birth until my grandmother's death meant slightly fewer ornaments for them.  We each had between 13-18; nothing to sneeze at when you move out and have your first tree!  They are more precious to me than gold or silver.  They are her legacy and my way to remember her.

Our tree, not an empty branch to spare

Record your Relationship

A few years later, my boyfriend presented me with an ornament as part of my Christmas gift.  It is two snowman holding a sign that says "Our First Christmas: 2009".  Since then, we go back and forth every year for whose turn it is to the buy the ornament.  The only rule is that it has to say the year somewhere on it.  The second year, I bought the ornament.  Two frogs dressed up like Santa, personalized with our names and the year. In 2011, the ornament was ordered from a woodworker on eBay.  It records our puppy's first Christmas.  And so on and so forth...  Someday maybe we'll have our own tree, filled with my grandmother's ornaments, and one documenting every year we've been together.  I like the idea of a slow tree-decorating evening, sipping on eggnog, listening to Christmas tunes, and reminiscing.  "Oh, that was the year we got Monkey!  Remember how small he was?"  "Oh this one is from the year you went out West!"...

Custom woodburning, from eBay

Make New Memories

My parents' tree also has a lot of history behind it.  It's certainly not one of those colour-coordinated stylish trees you see popping up in magazines and stores.  No.  Our tree is chaos.  It's laden with years of memories.  It's like a drunk elf threw up on it.

Of course, some of the ornaments are just cutesy or gifts from friends and neighbours.  But many of them have stories too.  There's a koala bear from their Australia trip.  A sparkly fish from our week-long trip to Cape Cod.  You get the picture.  When they travel somewhere, instead of coming back with a useless figurine or knick-knack that will take up shelf space and gather dust, they bring home a Christmas ornament, and reflect on their many blessings and wonderful voyages as they decorate their tree.  And isn't it nice to know, as you hang that ornament of a sunburnt, swimming-trunk sporting Santa on a green bow, that you were once baking under the sun, digging your toes in the sand, listening only to the rush of the ocean?  That there is someplace, somewhere out there, that isn't buried in snow?  It is for me.

It's hard to think about Christmas in August, but I'm glad I did.

A Book Buying Guide for the Bookworms (and maybe even some Non-Bookish Folk) on your List this Holiday Season

Further to our gift card discussion, I thought I'd post a book buying guide for the fast-approaching holiday season. I personally love receiving books as gifts but for some reason I rarely get them in return! You'd think as an English major and bookish nerd people would automatically get me books but perhaps because I've read a lot of books they shy away from choosing one for me? In my opinion, there is nothing more personal than choosing a book for a loved one. If you don't know where to start - start here! Remember, there's this magical thing called a GIFT RECEIPT that you can stick in the cover of the book to ensure that if they have read it they can return the gift and choose something they haven't. I usually wait and confirm that the receiver hasn't read the book before writing a personal inscription in the cover.  The most recent book I received as a gift was Mindy Kaling's Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns). I loved this present as I would never have bought it myself but thoroughly enjoyed it and gained a newfound appreciation for Mindy Kaling (I was a clueless Office lover who didn't know she was a major writing force). The book isn't on my list but does come highly recommended, especially for a young woman or aspiring writer of any kind. Kaling is a talented, funny and, despite the title, confident woman to learn from and look up to!

Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me?

Here at WTD we like to support local bookshops and booksellers but in the guide I have posted images and links to Chapters/Indigo for your reference and discretion.

1.) For a Friend in a Rut – The  Glass Castle – Jeanette Walls

The Glass Castle

If you haven’t read the blog article I wrote after hearing author Jeanette Walls speak at a literary event, read it here. I am a huge fan of her work and my appreciation for The Glass Castle doubled, no, quadrupled after having the chance to meet her in person.  The Glass Castle  is the perfect book for a friend who is in a rut, as many of us twenty-somethings are, because it puts life into perspective while simultaneously providing an unapologetic sense of hope for the future.  Hope is important for many of us right now and this book is also funny, touching and thought provoking.

2.) For your Mother-in-Law – The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society – Mary Ann Shaffer

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

Have you read it? It’s great! I stole it off my mom’s shelf expecting something completely different based solely on my impression of the title but it’s a rich and rewarding read written in the epistolary form that has an upbeat sensibility that I appreciate in literature. Goodreads: “The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society—born as a spur-of-the-moment alibi when its members were discovered breaking curfew by the Germans occupying their island—boasts a charming, funny, deeply human cast of characters, from pig farmers to phrenologists, literature lovers all. Juliet [the protagonist] begins a remarkable correspondence with the society’s members, learning about their island, their taste in books, and the impact the recent German occupation has had on their lives. Captivated by their stories, she sets sail for Guernsey, and what she finds will change her forever”. Some reader reviewers on Good Reads find it a little hokey but I truly enjoyed the wholesome, good-feeling vibes Shaffer puts into her writing. In my opinion, it’s a perfect read for your MIL.

3.) For your Literary Friend – Half-Blood Blues - Esi Edugyan

Half Blood Blues

I realize that because this selection is for your literary friend they may have read this book, but if they’re a literary friend they’ve probably read a lot of books. It’s going to be kind of  a shot in the dark to choose something for them no matter what. When in doubt, scan their bookshelves next time you’re over and looking for missing titles. Interestingly, despite its widespread acclaim I’d say that Half-Blood Blues is a novel many of my literary friends haven’t read – and should! This book changed the way I read. It immediately became one of my all times favourites. Edugyan surprised me in many ways and Half-Blood Blues turned into a story I wasn’t expecting and, interestingly, needed to read at the time. Half-Blood Blues reveals a side of war I hadn’t experienced in history or literature and it entranced and enveloped me. Good Reads puts it beautifully: “the best-selling, award-winning Half-Blood Blues is an entrancing, electric story about jazz, race, love and loyalty, and the sacrifices we ask of ourselves, and demand of others, in the name of art”.

4.) For your Eccentrically Eclectic Friend - The Door – Margaret Atwood

The Door

Unfortunately, you can’t give poetry to just anyone in this day and age, but hopefully, like me, you have a friend that truly appreciates the poetic side of life. If they have an appreciation of poetry or Atwood The Door will be an excellent choice. Atwood turned me on to poetry in grade twelve with her poem You Fit into Me (if you haven’t read it – go read it right now) and I’ve loved her poetry (and poetry in general) ever since. I studied The Door in a seminar class with Dionne Brand (get jealous and stay that way – it was a life changing semester) and I highly recommend the collection. As Good Reads explains, The Door: “investigate[s] the mysterious writing of poetry itself, as well as the passage of time and our shared sense of mortality”. As I said, choose the receiver of this gift wisely and it could be the perfect present.

5.) For your Dad – In the Skin of a Lion – Michael Ondaatje 
 

In The Skin of a Lion

My dad’s a reader, but I challenge you to try this book out on yours even if he isn’t. Ondaatje is a true wordsmith and In the Skin of a Lion is enchanting because of the effortless use of storytelling and language.  In the Skin of a Lion is a captivating read because of Ondaatje's use of poetic language and the way the text compels the reader to “figure it out” from the very beginning. In The Skin of a Lion explains Toronto's unspoken past and combines history, mystery and adventure to explore the sinister underside involved in building Canada’s biggest city in the 1920s.  

6.) For Your Aunt or Uncle that you simply can’t Shop For – The Shipping News – Annie Proulx

The Shipping News begins with the slowly imploding life of Quoyle a newspaper press room worker from New York State who relocates to his ancestral home on the coast of Newfoundland with his two daughters after being deserted by his ex-wife Petal. The family’s relocation is the beginning of a mid-life turnaround that allows Quoyle to find his place in the world and what Goodreads calls his “struggle to reclaim his life”. I absolutely love books set on the coast and The Shipping News is possibly the best. A guaranteed crowd pleasing read for any family member you simply can’t shop for.

7.) For your Mom – Latitudes of Melt – Joan Clark

Latitudes of Melt

Okay, now I’m on a Newfoundland kick. Latitudes of Melt is one of my mom’s favourite "finds" aka she found in in my bookshelf. I studied this book in a Can lit course during my Undergrad. Written by the author of An Audience of Chairs, Latitudes of Melt is a mom-pleasing, character driven story about a baby, later re-named Aurora, who is found floating off the coast of Newfoundland after the Titanic sinks. She is adopted and raised by a family in Newfoundland and later raises her own family there. The book explores her entire life until old age when she is finally convinced that she should explore her origins and find out where she came from.

8.) For your Brother or Brother in Law – Homage to Catalonia – George Orwell

Homage to Catalonia

The only book my brother has ever read is 1984. Okay, that’s probably not true but it is the only book he has ever liked, and he only read it because his high school curriculum made him. My parents had two children and our strengths are literally split down the middle; I am an English major who loves reading, writing, art, yoga, animals and nature and my brother in an Engineer who excels in science and math and plays sports… for fun (if you can believe that). I have chosen Homage to Catalonia because of my brother’s lack luster reading resume (his only weak resume, I might add, the kid is a genius). He liked Orwell, I think, because Orwell catches readers off guard and captures their interest before they have a chance to put the book down. Even most non-readers have gotten through Animal Farm and have had to stop and think about it. That’s a pretty amazing feat considering Animal Farm is often read around grade ten when boys are possibly at their most boy-ish. Homage to Catalonia is a lesser known Orwell which depicts his experience in the Spanish Civil War where he served on the Aragon front for a hundred and fifteen days and was at one point shot through the throat in battle. In typical Orwell fashion he replies to the people who said he was the “lucky man to have survived being shot in the throat” that it would be “luckier not to have been shot at all”. This book is rich in history, and although it doesn’t showcase typical wartime action, the politics and strife are evident on every page and I promise the reader will learn a lot (I did!).  

9.) For your Friend who has Read All the Classics – Wide Sargasso Sea – Jean Rhys 

Wide Sargasso Sea

Give this book to someone who has read the classics, loves the Brontës and Austen, but also appreciates good contemporary fiction (like us!). Don’t give this book to a classics-snob (I’ve met several of them – it’s not attractive – why are they your friend, anyway?) because they will be an asshole about it. I re-read Jane Eyre before embarking on Wide Sargasso Sea and I loved the entire experience! It gave me a chance to re-fresh on one of my top-five favourite Classics of all time and gave me a breath of fresh air and a new perspective on the story. Rhys explores Antoinette Bertha Cosway, Mr. Rochester’s mysterious captive and “madwoman” in Jane Eyre and crafts a unique and compelling tale set in 1830s Jamaica.

10.) For Anyone - Longbourn - Jo Baker 

Longbourn

I admit, I haven't read Longbourn (yet) but I have already given it to one my best friends. It sounds wonderful, someone described it to be Downton Abbey-esque, so of course I know I'm going to like it. Like Wide Sargasso Sea Longbourn plays with the beloved, tried and true story of Pride and Prejudice. I recommend reading Pride and Prejudice first to refresh, just like I did with Wide Sargasso Sea. In fact, why not give P&P and Longbourn as a gift set? I'm going to go put Longbourn on my wish list now!

In closing, I urge you to give at least one book this holiday season! Use this book buying guide or think up your own (and if you do, make sure to share it with me!). Either way, I know that any book lover and maybe even the oddly non-bookish folk  in your life will appreciate the gesture and maybe even learn something new this holiday season!

Gotta book it,

JEM

To Gift Card or Not to Gift Card; that is my dilemma

So I’m just going to come out and say it, plain and simple: I hate gift cards. Ok, well that’s not entirely true. Perhaps I should specify: I hate gift cards as Christmas gifts, both giving and receiving. Not to say that I am so obstinate as to refuse to accept the free purchase this little piece of plastic represents, per se. But as far as my favourite things about the holidays go, gift cards are definitely not at the top of my list.

Why, you might ask? Do I have something against easy shopping? Do I despise allowing people to make their own choices (granted, a choice that is limited to a particular store or mall but a personal choice nonetheless)? Do I love standing in crowded store lines for that perfect gift item, only to find that it sold out three weeks ago? No, no I do not love these things. However, call me a traditionalist, but I like to think that a Christmas gift is less about just getting a gift, and more about the person you’re getting it for.

Personally, while I understand that sometimes getting a gift card to a popular store rids one of much of the dreaded shopping stress that inevitably accompanies holiday spirit, I am turned off by the genericness of it all. Having been a repeated culprit in gift card giving, I can speak to the fact that oftentimes I don’t even look around the store to see if there happens to be any actual item that seems appropriate or gift-worthy; instead, I run straight to the front cash, grab a little plastic rectangle and say “please put this much on this card.” And then I get the hell out of that store, quick in, quick out, just the way I like it. It also prevents me from having to shop ahead of time. Just two weeks ago I ran into a store to get my sister a gift card for her birthday. As it happens, I was supposed to meet her for dinner half hour later to give her said gift and as it happens she was coming out of that same store at the very moment I was walking into it. She just looked at me knowingly and said “you’re getting me a gift card, aren’t you?” Well didn’t I just feel like a shit.

I’m sure we all have those people on our shopping lists who, when asked what they would like for Christmas, always recommend gift cards often because they’re “easiest” or the person is too busy and stressed themselves to think of a specific item or two he/she has actually been wanting. But last time I checked, the spirit of gift giving is supposed to come from a heartfelt desire to give someone a token of your appreciation for them. It’s not supposed to be first and foremost “easy”. “Easy” implies obligation, and it’s that sense of “OMG I have to get this person a gift” which creates all the holiday stress in the first place: ironically, during what is supposed to be one of the more joyous times of the year. As a gift giver, I want to show my recipient that I know them, I listen to them and I care, and sometimes a gift card falls short of demonstrating that kind of affection.

Now I’m not saying that when I receive gift certificates I feel unloved or unappreciated. At the end of the day, taking time, any time, to get me a gift is a show of kindness. But it tickles me a deeper shade of pink when I receive a gift that’s a little more personal. Like two years ago, when my brother in law had me for Kris Kringle. I am often one of those annoying people who doesn’t necessarily want anything in particular for Christmas, making shopping for me pretty much impossible. But when I opened my gift, I was filled with such joy and awe. My BIL had gotten me a Pittsburgh Penguins jersey (my favourite hockey team); it was an item that I wouldn’t have even thought to ask for! The gift showed that he was paying attention to my interests, my hobbies…to me.  And it was his knowing what the perfect gift for me would be, that touched me more than the gift itself. 

I’m not an idealist, thinking that there’s a perfect gift out there for everyone on our lists, especially if you encounter Vague Veronicas like myself. But there are ways to make Christmas gifts more intimate, more personal, even if that means including a small token alongside a gift certificate to the local mall. Here are a few suggestions:

Ask around: If you’re buying for a sibling, consult your other siblings or that sibling’s friends for suggestions. For a significant other, ask his or her friends or family members for advice on things he/she may have picked out or mentioned on a recent shopping trip. Don’t be afraid to get help!

Listen: If you’re in conversation around the holidays with someone you need to buy for, listen closely for whether that person mentions anything they might be looking for or needing in the near future. Sometimes that person may even be purposely trying to provide you with hints or gift ideas, so it’s important to pay attention, especially when topics related to the holidays come up.

Take notice: If you happen to be visiting with someone on your gift giving list, take mental notes and snapshots of particular things they might have around the home, or particular styles or trends they might like wearing. Use that as a template for gift possibilities, and let your deduction skills guide you the rest of the way.

Add a little somethin’ somethin’: My brother is Home Depot obsessed, and I’m not about to go out and buy him a saw. So to accompany the yearly Home Depot gift card, I decided to purchase a nice, inexpensive frame and put a picture of us in it, since I’m pretty sure neither of us actually owns one (thanks for the picture, mom). I taped the gift card to the back of the frame. It’s a small token but more personal than “here is your plastic rectangle; go get a new tool.” Other times, I’ll write a poem and wrap the gift card in that, or consult a handy DIY list (like the one conveniently included by WTD) to find an easy, yet adorable idea to add on to a less personal item.

Arguably, the best gift you can give anyone is your time, a moment or two out of your busy life to slow down and appreciate one another: whether that be buying concert tickets for a night out, arranging a spa day, or even writing an IOU for a dinner date in the future, on you. The gift of spending time with the ones you love is the most inexpensive, yet the most invaluable, and one that you will never have to wait in line for.

For all other options, I’d recommend getting a gift receipt. Just in case.

Gotta book it,

JEM

Jem's Reindeer Roundup

So by now you've realized that if you follow WTD, you're going to hear a lot about animals. We're kooky for critters, passionate about our pets, and adore and admire the animal kingdom. Had enough alliteration?
Anyway, I don't go in much for angels and Santas at Christmastime. Elves and snowflakes get very little of my attention. Creches with little baby Jesus inspire me to reconfigure them in rather rude postures. (Think of Mary wearing a tiny "I'm with stupid" sign pointed at a certain Joseph and you'll get what I mean) ((Sorry in advance for offending you)).
But my lifelong, non-cynical, still-feeling-the-Christmas-wonderment OBSESSION is with reindeer.
I was the kid who made sure next to Santa's cookies and milk were carrots and water for his fleet. Rudolph, that sexist, corny old claymation movie is, for me, the apex of cinematography. And yes, at 24 years old, I still tune in to ReindeerCam.com...just to watch those fuzzy, antlered cuties hang out.
So, as I window-shop my way through this Christmas without a penny in my pocket or a home of my own to decorate, let me present the cutest, weirdest, downright tackiest reindeer I've encountered so far this season.

Classic white-on-white PRANCER

This beauty was in a store window at the mall. Not sure if he's actually for sale, but he's definitely for the savvy shopper who wants to get in the spirit without sacrificing style. Note his majestic pose: arched neck, upturned face, one poised leg... and those curvaceous, mythic antlers! He's even coated in a sheer shine of white glitter. 

"There are two kinds of people on this earth: everyone else and you." Definitely BLITZEN.

Who else could be this bold?  This sparkly gold Canadian tire moose says: "Fuck reindeer! I can plow down a car, a beer is named after me... for sure I can pull a sleigh."  I guess you would display this big fella in your yard if regular reindeer just "aren't enough" for you.

Elegant DANCER from Canadian Tire.

Light up your yard with a whole fleet of Dancers: in soft gold lighting, and not in some stupid grazing pose, this sturdy girl looks like she's on the move and ready to deliver toys to girls and boys.

Cutest Couple: COMET and CUPID

OMG AREN'T THEY JUST ADORABLE?!  Available from Costco in giant yard size and smaller inside size, I think they're made out of heavy duty coated ceramic.  And they come with "leather" jingle bell harness/wreaths. Look at Comet, just wishin' on a star. And Cupid, just lovingly looking up at him, lounging in the warmth of their romance.  Ah-mazing.

Nice try, driftwood DONNER. "A" for effort. "A" is also for "Antlers?????"

This strange Canadian Tire reindeer is trying hard to do that "nature, reclaimed wood, up-cycling, home-made goodness" thing, but he falls short. For one, where are his antlers? Two, why does he look like a child just glued together some jenga blocks and dowels? Still, I would take little reject Donner home in a heartbeat... he could be a talking point!

Daring DASHER Decimates Driftwood Donner.

So, right next to poor, weird Driftwood Donner is another moose. This one at least looks like he's made out of birch and bark, has antlers, and his hysterical moose beard (which he grew for Movember). I'm liking the natural looking wreath complete with pinecones and holly berries. You could even say he looks "dashing" in it.

Head-turning VIXEN

White as snow and covered in sparkles, this lil' lady is strutting her stuff, flicking her tail and casting a sultry glance over her shoulder. She's also available posing with her adorable, flawless nose pointed perfectly in the air-- they way all pretty reindeer girls do.

 Wanna-be Rudolph sucking up to Santa

Well, there's no red nose in site at my local mall's Santa village, but the reindeer frolicking amongst the candy canes, glittery gifts and plasticy-plush Santa throne are whimsical (in a very 2013 kind of way). I liked this one because he is sporting both a onesie and a toque/sleeping cap, which is so very Night Before Christmas. However, he is also making kind of a "blah" face.  Like, he really isn't in the mood to be serving the Big Man in Red his cookies and milk.  And I kind of don't want to be thinking about reindeer slavery right now.

TO BE CONTINUED AS I FIND MORE REINDEER...

It happened!  I found more reindeer!  Here they are:

Seen at Taffy lane in Ottawa!

Amazing decorations at Taffy lane.

One of my christmas presents!

Didn't Max just make the cutest, albeit reluctant "reindeer"?

More bookish gifts for your hard-to-buy-for list!

So if you haven't seen Part One of this insanely long gift idea list, start there.  If we still didn't meet your needs, proceed.  But be warned: these ideas are so awesome, you're probably going to want most of them for yourself.
1. DVD collection of their favourite classic (if a collection doesn't exist, assemble it for them.  A quick wiki search tells me there are at least four movie versions of Wuthering Heights and most are available individually on Ebay.)
2. More plants.  No, seriously.  No home or reading nook should be without greenery; they are beautiful and healthy for us and the planet.  IKEA has a great plant section (so does No Frills), with bangin' bonzai trees and marvelous money trees with those wicked twisty trunks.  Everyone, from your teenage brother to your upstairs neighbour, likes to be needed, and needs something to nurture.  It expands your scope; it makes your world a little bigger when a life form is relying on you.

3. Decorative birdcage.  'Cause it feels all Victorian and lovely.  Add some vintage keys for the complete effect.
4. This gorgeous scarf with a quotation on it.  DIY here.

Etsy

5. Fabulous lampshade with words on it.  Tutorial here.
6. Equally fabulous shower curtain with words on it.  Bonus points if you can find or make coordinating soap dispenser, towels and bath mat.  Because bathrooms get rejected a lot.
7. Unique brass cuff with quotation on it.  I received this one for Christmas last year and it's my favourite piece of jewelry.

Etsy

8. Penguin earrings.  Nuff said.  (Actually come to think of it, if Penguin cufflinks exist...)

Etsy.

9. Dog GPS.  OK, OK.  This isn't literary at all, but we had a scare the other day when Mister Monkey got lost...and ended up on the neighbour's porch a significant distance away.  A GPS that would alert me when he left the yard (set up using a "Geo fence") would've saved us an hour of searching and innumerable tears.  The BluTracker looks interesting, but isn't being mass produced for another few weeks...
10. Crock pot.  Because there are NOT enough hours in the day to go to work, write your blog, exercise, play with the dogs and read a book.  Something's gotta give.  Unless you can do a triple combo move and make dinner effortlesly in a slow cooker, while reading your book, while working out.  Bonus points if you write/etch a wicked literary quotation on the crock pot.
11. Thing-a-majiggy that holds books open: great for reading on the stationary bike or treadmill.  Amazon calls it the Flip Clip.
12. Membership to Audible.  Listening to books is really convenient.
13. Glass/ceramic/steel etcher for the wannabe craft maven.  There's one available at Lee Valley for less than $15.  And if it's Lee Valley, it's quality tested and the company is Canadian owned.
14. Penguin bookjacket postcards (boxed set of 100).  If you want to be really generous, include a roll of stamps.

From theguardian

16. Spoon rest: the quickest way to add some jazz to your kitchen.  Ask an Etsy or craft show artist if they can customize one for you.  Basically anyone with a kiln should be able to.  Or you can try that Pinterest craft where you write on it with Sharpie and bake it on.  What about "Please, sir, I want some more?"
17. Embroidered oven mitts or anything personalized... it's just more...well, you know.  Personal.  Wine glasses, pillow cases, dog collars, mailboxes, tablecloths... if it can be painted or sewed on, you or a professional can take that regular item and turn it into individual-tastic.
18. Etched cake cloche, DIY here.  Don't forget to follow us on Pinterest.
19. Not literary per se but so nifty I couldn't leave it out.  Slumped bottle cheese tray or candy dish.  These are so wicked!  We have one of each and everybody raves about them.  It's also a great way to upcycle.  They're available on Etsy but also should be available at your local Craft Fairs this holiday season.  If you live in the Ottawa area, Riverlights Stained Glassworks can make you one for about $25.  they currently have only Grey Goose bottles in stock, but you are allowed to provide your own bottle as well!  You can contact them via Facebook or at riverlights@rogers.com

This one is on Etsy

20. This Shakespearean t-shirt.  Short, bookish girls unite!