This Moment

Once again...joining Soule Mama and all her friends in this Friday ritual. A single photo. No words. Capturing a simple, extraordinary moment from my week. A moment I want to pause, savor, and remember forever. amen.

Holding Pattern

What a strange week this is...

this week between

Christmas and New Year's.

The week that somehow leaves me feeling

restless and a bit uneasy.

The hectic days of preparation

subside...

and I find I almost miss them.

With the week off homeschooling...

we decided to give ourselves

a small...

well actually,

a large

gift.

We wrapped up the book shelf

so we could dress-up the

room for the holidays.

The added benefit of

"out of sight out of mind"

keeps it

wrapped-up tight!

Don't get me wrong...learning is still

happening, as it always does,

in the form of playing the keyboard

and reading about all its

wonderful programs...

reading a downloaded book on a new

Kindle...playing with all

the new toys in the house...

spending the night at big brother's

and playing video games without sleep!

Me?

I am in a holding pattern.

Still enjoying a cookie with my afternoon

coffee...watching Hallmark Holiday

Movies each night...

playing the songs of this

beautiful season.

So...please, be patient with me

as I continue to leave

the sounds of Christmas on my blog...

along with the holiday

background...

and share thoughts of this

all too brief season.

I'm holding on tightly

to these final

days of

2011.

Christmas Morning

Bing Crosby

crooning in the background...

cookie crumbles on a plate

with milk...

presents waiting...

under the lit and bedazzled tree.

Telling signs...all.

It is

Christmas morn.

That brief moment of realization

that the wait

is over.

To pause...

to hold onto that fleeting moment...

to embrace the joy.

For in a whirl of torn

wrappings and ribbons...

smiles and giggles...

the "you shouldn't haves

but I am so glad you dids"...

the thank yous...

I love yous...

all is revealed.

The music continues

with a new crooner...

filling our home with the

beautiful sounds

of a much anticipated/unexpected gift.

None more precious

than family...

who comes knocking on our door

to share in the wonder

of that

moment...

and a good cup of Christmas brew!

I hope your Christmas morning

was filled with such

beautiful moments

as these.

Do You Hear What I Hear?

Kierstin heard it.

Baby Kaylee heard it as well.

Have you heard it?

Last night at midnight...

I stepped outside to let my dog out

and I could hear the gentle

sound of snow flurries as they fell

quietly to earth.

Like a sweet song of anticipation...

a longing of what is to come...

the wonder and awe

of all that is...

seen and unseen.

Be Still.

And know.

Be still and know that the voice

you are hearing is the

Great I Am.

Let Your Heart So Sing For Joy!

This Moment

Taking a break from my holiday preparations to join all my friends from Soule Mama. Capturing a moment of wonder. A simple, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor, and remember forever. amen.

Holiday Gift Guide :: Idea #5

I could feature more

Old Maid New

Originals...

texting gloves...stadium mittens

scarves...hipsters...zafu's and zabutons...

and so much more.

Instead I'm putting you to work.

I'm talking about one of my favorite

gifts to receive...

Lovin From Your Oven

In the form of a cookie.

In this case

Mrs. Field's

Cinnamon Sugar Butter Cookies

Believe me when I say

that this little

snicker doodle type cookie

is sure to please.

It's all about the butter!

Now don't fret if you don't have the recipe.

I Googled it as labeled

above an it can easily be found on-line.

I got this cookbook from my mom

and it has been a family favorite ever since!

What a great combo pack...

the book given with a dozen of the cookies to eat.

I am a lover of the consumable gift...

those gifts that

I can really use and enjoy

every single little bite of.

Mrs. Field is great about using

just a few wonderful

ingredients.

With easy instructions, too!

This is my secret arsenal.

Spice Islands Pure Vanilla Extract.

It costs a bit more

but when you want to make your

pastries extra special

then this is the ticket.

Rolled into little 1 inch balls...

coated in sugar and cinnamon...

baked to perfection...

soft on the in...

slightly browned on the out.

Bite-sized heaven.

There is a plethora of creative packaging ideas

on-line as well.

Warm...

fresh from the oven...

in one of the many Christmas Tins

you've saved over the years

works just fine.

On a plate, perhaps?

After all...it's not about the

packaging...

it's what's waiting inside that counts.

Give the gift of homemade goodness.

This Moment

Taking a break from Old Maid New's Holiday Gift Guide to Join Soule Mama and her friends in this Friday ritual. A single photo. No words. A simple, extraordinary moment from my week. A moment I want to pause, savor, and remember forever. amen

Holiday Gift Guide :: Flowers and Joy

Welcome

to Day 5 of the

2011 Holiday Gift Guide...

Old Maid New

Style.

Flowers and Joy!

Ever play the game

where you see a picture of something

up close

then try to guess what it is you

are actually seeing?

If not...

here's your chance.

What do you see?

That's easy...

a 100% recycled

sweet pink

felted wool flower with

a vintage green

button.

Right?

Yes!

But it is attached

to a little

pocket...

which is connected to

an unconventional purple

Christmas Stocking.

A fun Holiday

alternative

for any little (or BIG)

girl on your list.

Are you getting the hang of

this game yet?

Here's another chance

to test your new

skill.

What do you see?

Joy!

Spelled out in a variety

of vintage buttons...

in all shades of

red.

Topping off

this

striped woolen

Christmas Stocking.

Spreading the

Joy Of The Season

to all.

How did you do?

Given as a

"gift bag"

to hold

a special present...

a re-usable coffee sleeve perhaps...

a pair of leg warmers, perhaps...

perhaps.

Hung by the chimney

with care...

awaiting Santa's

arrival.

Giving your home

the old/new

look

of

Old Maid New.

Holiday Gift Guide :: Idea #3

Welcome To

Old Maid New

Holiday Gift Guide 2011

Today's Featured Idea:

100% Recycled

(of course!)

Felted Woolen

Leg Warmers / Boot Toppers

Pictured here

with a Wellington Style Boot.

If you have ever worn these

then you know that they

are unlined...

A.K.A.

Brrrr...cold.

Fine for mucking around

on summer days...

not so fine

when worn during the winter months.

Leg Warmers

to the rescue!

The Boot Topper portion

is all about

being cute and fashionable.

The Leg Warmer insert...

is all about being practical!

Constructed to last.

Design...

Old Maid New

one-of-a-kind detailing.

Patchy look woolens...

seams on the outside...

in a word...

funky.

When I dropped these off at the shop

Harmony in Life...

Sue, a co-owner,

pulled these Ugg's out from

behind the counter...

(Shh...they are a gift for her daughter)

...and tried them out.

It transformed that boot

into...

dare I say it...

yes,

I dare...

a thing of beauty.

That's the whole point of

Old Maid New.

Stop back tomorrow for

Gift Idea #4!

Holiday Gift Guide :: Coffee Sleeves

Old Maid New

Holiday Gift Guide 2011

Idea #2:

The Recycled Wool

Coffee Sleeve

This has been a staple of

Old Maid New

since its beginnings.

What coffee drinker on your

Christmas list...

be it lovers of the dark espressos...

chocolaty mocha's...or creamy lattes...

wouldn't enjoy their very

own coffee sleeve?

Each with their own unique

"personality"

and style!

Just like that special person

you are giving it to.

Putting environmental concerns aside...

let's take a simple

side by side virtual test to see

which one comes out on top.

Ready...(watch carefully)...set...scroll!

I don't know about you...

but that just blew my mind!

The Recycled Wool Coffee Sleeve

is the clear winner...

coming out far ahead of its

cardboard competitor.

The Recycled Wool Coffee Sleeve

is available at

Harmony in Life

OR

contact me

jenondrus@yahoo.com

Perfect as a stocking stuffer.

Perfect when paired with a coffee house gift certificate.

Perfect for yourself as well.

Your cup...your hands...

and your earth

will thank you for it.

Thank you for stopping by.

Holiday Gift #3 coming at you tomorrow!

Big News :: Holiday Gift Guide

The other day I got an e-mail

from my friends at

Harmony in Life...

under subject

was the title

Big News!

???

I soon found out that

someone from

The Toledo City Paper

had been at the shop

taking pictures.

And guess who was

featured in their

Holiday Gift Guide?

Give up? Me...that's who!

Old Maid New

right there on page 17!

Here is a close-up

of the half-page

lay-out!

(oh, yes...I am a proud mama) There are many other

lovely ideas in their

guide...but I don't

want to ruin it

for you.

Pick up your copy at news stands

everywhere!

Beginning Today...

I am going to

feature my one-of-a-kind...

outside-of-the-box...

designs

right here...

for the unique person you are.

Your gift giving should reflect that!

And so I begin...

A Holiday Gift Guide

Old Maid New

style.

The Flower Pin.

100% Recycled and Felted Wool.

Vintage Buttons.

Repurposed...

something old

given a new and beautiful life.

Funny story here.

This simple design was originally

meant to be given free

with the purchase of

my up-cycled denim

Yoga Mat Carriers.

The fine customers at

Harmony in Life

wanted to purchase

them separately.

This little flower pin has been VERY

popular this holiday

season.

So, I don't want you to miss out!

What can I say?

The customer is always right!

What coat wouldn't look

even better

with a little cheery felted-wool flower?

Even a drab albeit functional purse...

Can be reinvented

with

a bright red

100% recycled

Flower Pin.

The best part...

they are so affordable

you can use them

in your

holiday gift wrapping...

Who wouldn't love

a little

Flower Pin

on their package?

It's like getting a gift

with a gift!

A perfect

replacement for that

ordinary

bow.

I know what your wondering?

Is Jen's affordable

my affordable? When I was asked the price

(remember they were meant to be free

with purchase)

by a sweet customer

at the Holiday Open House...

I blurted out...

$4.50.

You read that right...

that's four dollars and fifty cents!

She bought two.

I decided to

maintain that pricing

as a little gift to my

wonderful and loyal

customers at

Harmony in Life...

located at

5747 Main Street

Sylvania

OR

contact me via e-mail

jenondrus@yahoo.com

I can't sign-off without giving

Gale & Sue

a big HUG

and

X

for making this all possible.

I love you guys!

Stop back tomorrow for idea #2.