Waiting and Preparing {+Holiday Gift Ideas}

We've been waiting on the rain for a year. Maybe more, because I really only remember it on the roof tops a few times this summer and once or twice last winter. The eaves of our house have gotten so filthy, but it wouldn't have been right using up drinking water to hose them off.

When we were in Catalina last weekend, we had to buy bottled water at the restaurants because they are down to their last drops in the water towers. The waitress said if they don't get enough rain this winter, then they might have to start limiting how many tourists they allow on the island next summer. That's one of those things so drastic, I can't even picture it.

I guess one positive thing about all the warm weather is the fact that strawberries and tangerines are still growing locally and our plumeria is producing new flowers, but I think I joined a collection of Southern Californians this week in a sigh of relief once the rain finally came down.

It's also allowed me to stay inside and focus on preparing for Christmas--making gifts, going on Pinterest, texting my neighbor about DIY burlap wreaths, eating cookies. Since you might have gift giving on your mind too, I thought I'd mention a few things we like, in case you need ideas. And if you have any for us, please feel free to share! I've still got about four people on my list with question marks next to their names.

-First off, the Electronic Popcorn Popper is awesome. After I caught a bag of popcorn on fire in the microwave and we had to wash the walls, my parents came to the rescue with a Stir-Crazy electronic popcorn popper for Christmas. They've had theirs for 30 years!
favorite features:
-you can't burn popcorn
-you get to watch it pop (still exciting)
-the lid becomes the bowl
-wipe down the non-stick cooking surface with a damp towel and rinse the bowl and it's ready for the next use.
-we like to try different varieties of gourmet popcorn when we have friends over and for special movie nights.
-Arbor Skateboard: This is the skateboard I just got from women's skateboarding advocate Amelia Brodka. Amelia set it up with theeve black titanium trucks, bones bushings and size 58 wheels. This setup, I'm told, is best for skating bowls and skateparks. I like it because it feels stable and smooth.

-Purl Soho Knit Kit-This is the kit I learned to knit with (as for the book, think concise instructions, big pictures). I still reference it to learn new stitches. The yarn it comes with (choose your own color) is 100% marino wool (soft as a real lamb). If you're not looking to learn to knit, but to continue to, check out their yarns. There's a million pretty colors. I had to call them today because I wanted to add another skein to my online order. I was caught off guard when, after one ring, I heard "Hello, this is Natalie". I don't think I've called a company in the last two months that didn't put me on hold first. Good customer service keeps holiday spirits in the 'Good-Great' zone. You know, if there was a scale or something.

As for items to celebrate Christmas, I wanted to mention this Frasier Fir candle because it smells like a live Christmas tree. I burned the whole thing back down to the glass container it came in last year, so I was so excited when my mom gave us a new one this year.
I'm sure I'll think of other things that we use and love, but all of these items have been in frequent use this year. On my Christmas list is the movie Boyhood on DVD. I still like owning and collecting movies, even though they are kind of space wasters. Have you seen it? I'm really enjoying the soundtrack on Spotify right now, too (embedded below). I love numbers 1 and 8 most.

And finally, this was a popular article about the kindness of humanity that went viral a few years ago, but in case you've missed it, check out 26 Moments That Restored Our Faith in Humanity.