I Spy With My Little Mastercard - Etsy!

I am somehow the last passenger on the "shop online for Christmas" train. I've been grumbling for years, while shuffling through crowded stores; having my ankles nicked by pushy people with shopping carts; being elbowed out of aisles by little old ladies...and on and on. I try to keep my Spirit light and remember that everyone is going through the same thing - trying to find the perfect gift.

Well, not this year! Thanks to Etsy and other online marketplaces, I can find the coolest gifts for my favourite people and I don't even have to leave the house! I really can't believe I've waited so long to do my shopping like this!
So here is what I've found so far:

Cottage Garden Studios has made these great fingerless gloves and matching coffee cup cozies!  A serious must for those who get cold hands, but need some dexterity!  The perfect gift for my office friends who suffer from cold hands in the Winter while typing away at their desk.

Check out Sarah's shop here.

And what would Yule be without a visit to our favourite domestic witch - Mrs. B!

I had to get a few treats for myself in her Etsy shop - but also commissioned a Voodude for my neice.  I know she will love it and can't wait to share it with her.  Check out Kris's shop - and if you are looking for a custom 'Dude, let her know!

Another dear blogger, The Whimsical Cottage had a grand sale on this weekend for the holiday and I managed to eek in right before the last minute!  I bought this wonderful little mushroom charm for my gypsy friend, and bought myself a handsome snowman ornament for my tree.

Check out Danni's Etsy shop here. 

I hope everyone had a fabulous Thanksgiving holdiay weekend!  I spent the morning on Thursday in front of the television watching the Macy's parade - which I've been doing every year since high school.  (My amazing mother would actually call me in "sick" to school on US Thanksgiving day so I could watch the parade!)

I did take a short drive across the border into Washington state and find a few things on Black Friday, but most of my shopping is done now - thanks to some talented people on Etsy, the glorious-magical internet and my dear, sweet credit cards!

Happy shoppping!

 

Dashing Through The Snow...Or Not

It's been snowing for two days here - light, ethereal little flakes.  Until today.  A quick, icy blizzard and now the roads are frozen with pretty, white ice.  Beautiful - but dangerous.

Ever the optimist (and procrastinator) - I decided to stay home from the office and piles of work that need attending to and snuggle in with a book and a cup of coffee and Bailey's Irish Cream.  The work will still be there tomorrow...

I'm also sorting out my Winter "Plans for Excellent Fun" - which is usually a large list that doesn't often get too many things checked off it.  Included are: sledding, ice skating, hot dogs & marshmallows over a campfire, snowshoeing and much more.

Also included is the sleigh ride I meant to take last year.

This clever little site (posted last year too) has listings of tree farms, Winter fun and sleigh rides in many States and Provinces.  Check out your area, and see if there's something for your Winter-fun list!  Or, you could just stay home with a good book and some coffee and Bailey's.  I won't judge.

I Spy With My Little Mastercard - Witchy Scents!

http://www.bayouwitchincense.com/

I know I should be Yule shopping for other people....but I've been drooling over Celeste's website for a while now.  If you don't know what I mean - head over to Bayou Witch Incense and you will be drooling too!  So guess who's got some incense, candles and oil coming her way?  Thank you Mastercard!  (Okay - I used Visa this time.  But the catchphrase can't be changed now!)

I picked up a candle from Dorothy Morrison's Wicked Witch Mojo collection:

And also some 7 Sisters powdered incense, which I've never tried before.  And so many more goodies!  Celeste is a dear and has a wonderful business here!  Do check her out for your witchy needs and you can also find her on Facebook.

I also received this wonderful package in the mail from The Traveler at Lost in Astral Space!  There are so many wonderful gifts!  She made the lovely (green-sparkly) BOS and the prayer beads hanging on the edge of it.  She also painted the decals on the jar and made me this cute little cornhusk broom.  Thank you so much Monica!

Have you started your Yule/Xmas shopping yet?  Or are you like me:  10 gifts for me...and one for someone else!

Happy shopping!

October Leaves, Squash Returns

October always flies by too fast.  This is something I believe and have heard from numerous people this week.  Usually accompanied by a sigh.  I'm not sure if it's because it's my favourite time of year, or because the month seems to perch so precariously between deep Autumn and early Winter, that it seems so delicate and temporary.  We appear to get just the most brief space of October, and then it's gone and the cold, biting winds and forecasted snow of November rolls in.

To distract myself from watching the Weather Channel for any local snow news, I'm looking over my haul of squash from the farm stands last week.  To think - I used to hate these wonderful veggies (or fruits - whatever you prefer!)  Now I cannot make it through a Winter without a good stock of squash.

A few hints for great Winter meals involving squash:

~ Pick squash that is unblemished and hard.  Don't bring any home that feel soft at all, or are bumped or nicked.  They won't last.

~ Keep your squash in a cool, dry place.  A basement or out of the way cupboard is perfect.

~ Unless you want to add extra sugar, try to find the sweeter varieties like Acorn, Dumpling, Celebration and other small squash.  You can roast these with a simple pinch of salt and pepper and a dab of butter - yum!  Okay - full disclosure: sometimes I do toss a teaspoon of brown sugar in there too!

~ Pick one or two easy recipies.  You are more likely to use up your pile of squash if it doesn't take two hours to prepare your dish.  I've had a butternut squash for a year - telling myself that I'm going to make Butternut Ravioli and it never happens.  It is possible that it is now solid rock inside - and will very likely find a new home in my compost in the Spring.  Instead I make a nice roast squash, or an easy squash soup. 

~  As the squash sit, their colours will fade.  As long as the skin is unpunctured, and the squash is firm, they will still be good to eat.

Enjoy this last bounty of Autumn - and stock up!

Oh - The Horror!

from: http://www.shoeboxblog.com/

Just wanting to check in, and let you know I haven't been made off with by zombies from Sunday's super-fab Halloween/Samhain festivities.  Although...I did meet a few cute zombies...

I've merely been swamped by the mundane this week.  Working two jobs is starting to wear on my witchy nerves, but never fear - the extra work (and extra pay) will be over as of next Friday.  That means I will finally have time to sink into a good latte and read up on what you wonderful bloggers have been doing!  (Hopefully some of you got into some delicious trouble over the recent holiday!)

My treat to myself last night was a movie - but I chickened out on "Paranormal Activity 2."  I just couldn't do it.  So I went and saw "Due Date" instead.  A good laugh is always worth the $10 to get in and some overpriced, butter-drowned popcorn never hurts either.  If you like ridiculous comedy, Robert Downey Jr. looking all distressed, or Zach Galifianakis and his crazy hairyness - go see this movie.  Or, if you are braver than me, check out the horror movie and tell me all about it, so I don't have to go!