Something to do with those aging mix tapes

This artist got creative with his recycling. Perhaps he too had boxes of old mix tapes he wanted to get rid of. Instead of throwing them out with the trash, he turned them into art.


Pretty darn cool.

The Jim Morrison piece above is $700. See more here.

Christmas wishlist

V & I attempted to get some shopping done at midnight on Black Friday, at the outlet mall in Vegas. We lasted all of an hour before we gave up and went back to our hotel.

I like shopping but have very little patience for trying things on. I also have a low tolerance for crowds and long lines. So online shopping suits me perfectly.

While shopping for others though, one inevitably finds something for oneself. Here are some things that I'm *wishing* for. Might give you some ideas for what to get for the folks on your list.

Gorillapod

It's hard enough trying to get your digital point-and-shoot to consistently produced decent shots. But throw in low-lighting, a slower shutter speed and unsteady hands and you end up with bad night pictures almost every time. This funky and handy tripod will take care of that. No flat surface? Not a problem. The Gorillapod can wrap its arms/legs on poles, tree branches, and wine bottle necks, among others. Comes in cute colors, and you can opt for an unpackaged unit to cut down on plastic packaging waste. The unpackaged ones are cheaper too ($21.95), so it's good for your wallet and the environment. Comes in different sizes so it can handle anything from a small camera to those massive DSLRs.

Marimekko wall hanging

I'm always looking for ways to counter V's growing collection of military prints. Nothing against them, just not my style at all. And since there are not enough wall space in his office to accommodate all his nicely framed prints, they end up spilling into the rest of the house. Marimekko is an established Finnish textile and clothing design company that makes everything from dresses, to plates and mugs, to bedsheets and tea towels--all with really funky patterns. This Marimekko wall hanging is made of 100 percent cotton, machine washable, and super cool. And it's on sale!

Simply Vera Vera Wang Quilted Faux-Crocodile Flat Tote


I've tried on several pieces from Vera Wang's Simply Vera line, without much success. Her dresses would look cute on the rack, and then really not cute on me. Same with shoes. They look really good in pictures, then you see them in person and wonder if you were even looking at the same thing. But among her handbags are some real winners, at least in my estimation. This is one of them. Comes in black too, and is the perfect size for carrying my MacBook. At $89 though, I thought it was a bit much for something you would get at Kohl's. But now that it's on sale for $53.40, I think I like it even more.

What's on your Christmas wishlist?

Dogs dine in style

Bent plywood cuteness for dogs. Too pricey for my taste though, at $210 for the large one.Photo: Pet-super-store.com

Great design for daily living

It's amazing how good design can elevate everyday items into things of beauty. Some items I want in my home:

Eva Zeisel's Classic Century Dinnerware Originally designed in 1952 by designer Eva Zeisel, reissued by Crate and Barrel. One word to describe this collection: graceful. I especially want the teapot, coffeepot and sauce boat. 

Bodum's Columbia sugar and cream set

I'm kind of obsessed with sugar and cream sets. Don't ask me why. This is one of my favorites. So sleek and cool. 

Pier 1 Orbit Chair

Mid-century flavor + homey wicker = cool chair

I waited too long to get these. When I finally needed them, they were gone--discontinued! Why Pier 1, why? You just discontinued the one item that gave your brand a cool cachet.

How do you gift wrap a water buffalo?

Have you started your holiday gift shopping yet? If you, then you've probably considered all the usual suspects. Perhaps a new computer for Papa from Dell, jewelry for Mama, clothes for the sibs. I've actually already purchased gifts for the in-laws online, thinking we would be delivering them over Thanksgiving. 

But lately, I've been thinking a lot about how we can live our lives more simply, more authentically. And to me, that includes trying to get away from having so much "stuff." On the flipside, it also means giving less "stuff."

Making charitable donations in someone's name as a gift is nothing new. But this year, I'm pretty sure I will do it for at least some of my Christmas presents. There's one charitable institution that has really piqued my interest. 

You know that saying "Teach a man how to fish and you've fed him for a lifetime?" Well, giving through Heifer International is one way of doing that. Instead of giving money to people who need it, the charity gives things that people need to be able to provide for themselves. Their online gift catalog includes goats, bees, flocks of ducks and geese, and trees. They go to communities all over the world where they are most needed. Like the Philippines, where you can help someone buy a water buffalo. 

This man, Fred Sarilla of Bugcaon (which I think is in Bukidnon) in the Philippines, got a cow. He says, "Before we ploughed by hand and feet, and what we produced was with our hands and carried on our heads. Now we have a cart. I ride with my wife and children and are talking with joy because we are riding." Photo: Heifer International