Picture from Everythingsright.com

I love nature, even though I’m not particular a big fan of dirt. It’s a weird sort of conflict within myself. For instance , I’d love to kneel down and play in a garden – but as soon as I get a chance I’ll run to wash my hands and get the dirt out from under my nails. But I really did grow up alongside nature: spending weeks at nature camps where we slept in cabins or on a giant hillside under the stars (which was a great idea in theory, but it made us wake up cold and covered with dew), enjoying reading and watching stories about flower fairies and gnomes, and spending all of my time in the backyard with the trees, marigold flowers, and ginkgo trees.

For all of my nature love, I don’t spend enough time outside these days. And now with Winter…well, who wants to stand in the snow? I’d fix the problem simply by buying a plant…sure, that sounds easy…but I’m not good at keeping them, er…alive. Now, I can keep Shopcat alive just fine! But plants…they confuse the razzle-dazzle out of me! Sometimes I think they’re thirsty so I water them and then they leaves turn yellow from being over-watered (who knew there was such a thing?!), other times I don’t give them enough sun. Ugh. The entire process makes me want to give up on plants entirely. At one point I was determined that I would buy a faux-topiary and put it in my room just for some greenery!

But now I have a NEW fixation. And I think this is a really good one. Are you ready? TERRARIUMS! Easy to make, and even easier to maintain (spray with water once a week, keep out of direct sunlight)  – I am pretty flippin’ sure I can handle that!

SIMPLY MOSS, Moss Terrarium inside of a Vintage Princess House Apothecary Jar

Simply Moss Terrarium by warmcountrymeadow on Etsy – $25.00

The Green Chef Moss Terrarium-Free Stocking Stuffer

This terrarium is by greenbriar on Etsy – $56.00

If you really don't want the real thing: "Terrariums" - printed on Epson Velvet Fine Art Matte paper using archival pigment ink.

Terrariums print by hillarybird on Etsy – $15.00

Mama and Baby Hedgehogs

Mama and Baby Hedgehogs go into a terrarium for decoration by doodlebirdie on Etsy – $14.00

Gerson Princess Glass Apothecary Jars, Set of 2

Two glass apothecary jars to use in making your own terrarium bv The Gerson Company @ Amazon – $49.99

Learn how to make your own terrarium at Storm the Castle or Design*Sponge. If you have a bit of time, a terrarium can cost you almost no money to buy. You can use any kind of jar, even a jam jar. Moss is outside! And rocks, soil? Also outside.

Singer/songwriter Kate Voegele was happy to receive a DVD copy of Home Alone as well as a Peppermint Martini Kit from Crate and Barrel. We’d be happy to get those things, too! Or maybe peppermint hot chocolate? Cute touches like peppermint stirrers add a nice little extra. Giving someone a classic DVD and special hot chocolate gift set would make a great Christmas gift.

Peppermint Cocktail Stirrers $10.95

Peppermint Martini Mix $9.95

Peppermint Rimming Sugar $6.95

Home Alone DVD $9.99

Ghirardelli Chocolate Peppermint Hot Cocoa, 14-Ounce Tins (Pack of 2) $22.99

Peppermint Hot Cocoa Mix $14.00

Hammond’s Soft Peppermint Hot Cocoa Stirrer Sticks $7.95

Ghirardelli Peppermint Stripe Holiday Hot Chocolate Gift Set,White Mocha Cocoa and Double Chocolate Cocoa ON SALE $18.50

My personal book list recommendations:

Keeping the House by Ellen Baker. I think this is a wickedly compelling novel steeped in nostalgia and a little bit of mystery.
Between the Tides by Patti Callahan Henry. This is a book I picked up at the library because I liked the title and cover. And I turned out to really enjoy reading it. I love being immersed in the seaside life presented in the novel. There is a lot to devour in this book.
Transformation Soup: Healing for the Splendidly Imperfect by Sark. A self-help book that does not resemble a self-help book. Bright, vibrant, and something worth owning.
Ella Minnow Pea by Mark Dunn. The most lovely novel, highly recommended!
The Best Loved Poems of Jacqueline Kennedy Onasis. Poetry is meant to be owned and loved.

Amazon Editor’s book recommendations I think are worth reading and have added to my own ‘to read’ lists:

Let the Great World Spin: A Novel (Hardcover) – Colum McCann. I really like the idea of seeing things from several different perspectives. This seems like the kind of book you’d have to own just to rediscover it anew with every read. The kind of book that has words you simply must own.

Beautiful Creatures (Hardcover) -Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl. I was going to easily write this off as a book with a pretty cover but nothing more. A modern day fairytale about outcasts? That worries me, because Twilight was a horrible book to read. But the reviews for this book sound very promising. Holly Black (NYT Bestselling author of Tithe: A Modern Faerie Tale) says, “A lush Southern gothic whose memorable, eccentric characters draw you into their captivating world.” Boom, I’m sold. I want to give this book a read.

Crazy for the Storm: A Memoir of Survival (Hardcover) by Norman Ollestad. Whatever this book is, the fact that it’s a memoir of survival seems to speak of a hopeful outlook. Which is nice. We all need more hope. Reading the customer reviews convinces me that I’d want to read this book.

Stitches: A Memoir (Hardcover) by David Small. It’s hard to believe this is a memoir. David Small had parents who gave him cancer by having a radiologist father who put him under x-rays for no reason, and never took care of the problem. That’s unfamilar terrain for most of us (or hopefully all of us) but reading this book is supposed to remind of of how your own child-eye’s memories feel. They’re sketched, mostly wordless. “Early memories (and difficult ones, too) often seem less like words than pictures we play back to ourselves. That is what’s recognizable and, somehow, ultimately delightful in the midst of this deeply sad story: it reminds us of our memories, not just what they are, but what they look like.” – Amazon. I can’t tell you how many of my early childhood memories are simply images that flash in my mind and are full of emotions, colors and feelings – but seem to diminish with words.

Kindle Wireless Reading Device (6″ Display, Global Wireless, Latest Generation) @ Amazon $259. The Amazon kindle is great because it’s as thin as a magazine but it can hold 1,5000 books (which is more than my bookcases hold). Apparently the kindle has no glare like most screens have, and it even has a super long battery life. Still, wouldn’t you miss holding the weight of a book? This has to be great for tech people or people who travel a lot.

Moon in my Room @ Amazon $18.69. This is a great Christmas gift for kids or teens. It comes with a remote control, an audio CD that gives you a tour of the moon and it comes to life showing you the 12 cycles of the moon. You can put it on your wall and when the lights are off it lights up. It’s great for space themed rooms, or kids interested in science. This would be a smart way to get kids excited about bedtime, too. We’ve come so far from having just sticker stars on the ceilings! This is one of the best-selling gifts on Amazon.

JBuds J2 Premium Hi-FI Noise Isolating Earbuds (Black/Electric Blue) @ Amazon $29.94. What more do you need from nifty earbuds than, “Premium sound quality, Compact size, Sleek design, and ultra rugged durability”?  The silicon cushions for your ear are actually comfortable? I’m down with that!

Viewsonic VFD720-12 7-Inch Digital Photo Frame with 2GB Internal Memory @ Amazon price is $59.99 when the list price is a whopping $79.99. You can store thousands of pictures in this picture frame. There’s a slideshow feature and you can customize your photos and how you see them. Digital picture frame are a hot Christmas gift for 2009.

Flip UltraHD Camcorder, 120 Minutes @ Amazon. Because you really would make a great YouTube star! Make great YouTube viral videos using your sleek camcorder. Share great moments with family, friends, and even strangers. Whether it’s your kid reciting funny poetry, or newborn kittens – sharing is caring.

Hitachi HV250R Magic Wand Massager @ Amazon $40.42. This has great reviews wherever I see it reviewed (including on Amazon). This is even the exact massager that Andy gives to Nancy in an episode of Weeds. I believe Samantha also has it in Sex and the City. Anyway, it is not a vibrator, although I’m pretty sure Samantha used it as one. You can use it for anything. Get this for your girlfriend/wife and she’ll love you. “The Hitachi Magic Wand Model # HV250R is the legendary, super-powerful electric massager with the soft, flexible head. If this one doesn’t provide enough stimulation, nothing will! Two-speed switch, uses any standard 110-volt outlet. Overall length 12 inches (2-inch diameter head). One-year manufacturer’s warranty. From Hitachi.”

Urban Outfitters has a ‘cheap gifts’ section and I’ve looked around to see what is worth a purchase. Stuff I don’t like? While the Cupcake on a Rope is cute, who really wants to bother with soap on a rope? I’d skip the Lace Pedestal Jewelry stand because whoever you buy that for you’re really dooming to a lifetime of dusting that thing all the time.

Thoughtful gifts! I like the Love and Toast hand cream ($10.00) as a gift because everyone uses lotion (or SHOULD) and it’s not too personal of a gift. Plus, it’s cute! Candles are amazing! And they’re always a great gift. You can never have too many candles. Urban Outfitters has great candles on sale. There’s the Apothecary Candle for modernists & Illume Cylinder Candle for artistic folks ($12.00). Plus Aunt Sadie’s Holiday Candles ($18.00) are great for the traditionalists.

Useful gifts! The Mini Branch Wall Hook ($12.00) is a useful and cute little item. The site has a ton of little knick knacks – most of which you don’t love enough to buy for yourself so why would you give it to a friend? Back to useful things – the Robot Toothbrush Holder ($8.00) is really cute.