No matter how you celebrate the season, I wish you all kind holiday greetings.  I always make our holiday cards every year, they're often a reflection of how the year went, and of course, this was the Year of Indy. Our beloved pup is no longer with us, but remains forever in spirit, and her memory is a reminder to love and cherish every day we have. So take that blessing from our fuzzy pup as we say farewell to one year and hello to a new one! Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night.

Jaunty Fine Print: Illustration by Denise Sakaki

I won't stress you out over listing the dwindling days till Christmas, but we all know it's coming down to the wire -- ARE ALL YOUR GIFTS BOUGHT AND READY TO RUMBLE???  I know, that was mean. The Magpie just got bumped to the Naughty List, to be sure. But I'll make up for it -- forget wrestling with mall traffic or contemplating Chia Pets for yet another year, use the magic of subscription services to make your gifts feel unique and ones that will last well into the new year! 

Holiday greetings to everyone -- I'm sure you're doing last minute shopping or putting those final touches on that carefully crafted note to Santa. Instead of the typical Holiday/Non-denominational-type post, I'm taking a moment to ponder a bit of spirituality, as one is often inspired to do around Christmastime.

I love big holiday traditions as much as the next gal, but it's the little, personal ones I appreciate the most. Over the last several years, a good friend of mine always gets together to admire the holiday decorations -- it used to be around the Kirkland waterfront, where she used to live, and they had the crazy strings of lights in a mad tangle. We loved it. Over the last few years, we've moved our tree-spotting to downtown Seattle, for a yearly trek to the Fairmont Olympic, to gaze upon their holiday trees and window-gaze at the nearby Luly Yang boutique. 

Wishing everyone a very Happy Holidays with this Jaunty sparkly post! This Bird is in full Christmas mode, listening to Burl Ives' Holly Jolly Christmas, along with my whole playlist of seasonal music that as a rule, I only bust out as of December 1st. Take that, retailers who are decking the halls in October! 

This year, I made it a point to not go completely off the rails for the holidays, taking on too many projects and not getting a chance to really enjoy the season. I wasn't burning the midnight oil on workstuff, I took time to visit with friends and see people I hadn't seen in forever. You get to the point where the holidays aren't about stuff wrapped in boxes and tied with bows, you want the gift of time, to reconnect and let the people in your life know how much they mean to you, whether it's over coffee, dinner or a cocktail or three. Martinis are full of love, don't you know? 

And a new tradition of breaking tradition continued into this year -- last year I was so busy, I didn't have time to put up a tree. It broke my heart a little, as I always felt like it wasn't Christmas without a tree, but I was exhausted. The holidays were still plenty special and it was yet another reminder that the holidays are a state of mind.  I didn't decorate a tree again this year. I knew if I didn't have that thing up by the first week of December, it wasn't going to happen. But I was going to be okay with that because I didn't need one tree, I had all the trees of Seattle and her surrounding cities. I made it a point to visit and admire as many decorated trees around the area as possible. The multiple trees of Chateau Ste. Michelle in Woodinville, downtown Bellevue's many trees in all their main squares, Kirkland's brightly-lit (and carol-singing) tree along the waterfront, Seattle's many trees in Westlake Center and Pike Place Market, even a beautifully chic Tiffany and Co tree decorated in just what Eartha Kitt purred about in Santa Baby. 

And along the way of admiring trees, I didn't skimp on the extras -- the madness of the nightly marching band of Snowflake Lane, gingerbread villages in Seattle and Bellevue, holiday shopping through Pike Market's specialty shops, even a peppermint mocha with whipped cream and sprinkles. I'm redefining what Christmas means to me as an adult, which is less things, more experiences and immersing oneself in the sights, smells and yummy flavors of this festive time of year. We'll regret all those Chia Pets, Snuggies and Pajama Jeans six months from now, but enjoying a decorated town square on a chilly winter night will never lose its luster, at least not in my eyes. 

And so this is my Christmas post -- it's what the holiday means to me, along with taking time when I have it. So in honor of that promise to myself, I'll leave this up from now until the new year. Because even a blogger needs a winter holiday, right? But fear not, the Magpie is all ready to return bright-eyed for 2013. Until then, please take the time to spend with your loved ones. The holidays are the one time of year where it feels a little easier to tell someone they're important to you, that you love them, and how thankful you are to have them in your life. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all!

Jaunty Fine Print: Photos by Denise Sakaki

Well? Did you survive the opening bell of the holiday season and strongarm some random stranger for that Tickle Me Elmo doll on Black Friday? Or did you avoid the shopping rush altogether and are starting to get a case of the cold sweats while looking at your gift list? Fear not! The Magpie is here to not only help you, but help you help the whole country, just by the simple look at a label. I'm talking about the label-consciousness that doesn't say whether or not something says Gucci or Louis Vuitton, it's the best possible name brand you can find: Made in the USA. 

Don't roll your eyes thinking everyone's going to be stuck with Pyrex measuring cups (yes, it's an American company!).  There are A LOT of domestic-made/manufactured products out there, and it's as easy as checking the labels. Granted, you can't get everything made in the US, but you can at least make it a point to be selective based on where an item is made, and make the choice to buy local. Even if it's a little shop that sells imported perfumes, that shopowner will be glad you made the purchase there, versus a big-box department store. With every dollar you spend for a local/American-made item, it's a way of investing in our own economy, our people, and a future aimed at growth.  

It's so easy to find thoughtful and meaningful gifts that follow the Made in the USA/Shop Local ideal -- here are some tips and ideas: 

Avoid the malls, stick to small neighborhood boutiques; there are always one-of-a-kind finds and sometimes if there's something you really want, the shop owner may be willing to work a deal. 
 
You can type in "Made in the USA" or "Made in America" on large shopping websites like Amazon, and they have a wide selection of everything from home/kitchen goods to beauty products. 
 
Buy gift cards from local restaurants or shops to give as gifts -- recipients can enjoy a favorite dish or be introduced to a new shop. 
 Look for craft shows, which are popular leading up to the holidays. It's not all lace doilies and creepy knitted dolls, you can find crowd-pleasing gifts like artisan foods, handmade soaps and candles and jewelry. 

Shop online for handmade crafts at Etsy.com - you can narrow your search by local artists and find a ton of unique, beautiful gifts for others (or yourself). Make sure to shop and order early, since a lot of the items are on short supply or might need to be made.  

Jaunty Fine Print: Graphic by Denise Sakaki, statistic from ABC News series Made in America

So, this is Christmas... and what have you done...? Well, John and Yoko, I think this Birdie's been an awfully good girl this year and plenty dang busy! Every year, right before Christmas, it's a mad dash for everyone to get their work done so they can take off for family visits and some well-deserved time off, and I think that's probably why it's always notably hectic. And it's been no different this year -- there was a lull, an odd moment of quiet, like being in the eye of the holiday storm right before Thanksgiving when I felt like I had a moment to enjoy the early decorations and festivities (you can see everything in the photo above - most of those were taken in November!), thanks to an over-eager retail industry. And maybe that was a blessing, having that early peek at Christmas, despite all our eyebrow-raising that it wasn't even December yet, and we were seeing decorated trees and boughs of holly decked upon all the halls by, say... October.

Which leads me to the most significant thing about this year's Christmas. A few weeks before, in the flurry of a frantic work week, I made what I consider to be a Jaunty Executive Decision. I said this year, there would be no decorating of a tree. (pause for dramatic gasp) Granted, our traditional tree is a fake one, I have it stored in our closet and a giant plastic bin full of ornaments. There's no digging around, searching for where stuff could be. It easily could have been dragged out like previous years, fussed-over, and once decorated and lit, I'd be full of holiday sentimental feelings, glad for the effort. They will remain dormant for the first time in many years, at least since we moved to our house and the ornaments full of childhood memories remain in darkness for this year. This sounds so sad! Are you feeling holiday depression? Is everything okay with family and home? That's what you're thinking. Heck, that's what I'm thinking. But in the busiest period of the pre-holiday chaos, I considered what really and truly matters during the holidays, and for all the beloved rituals we have, there is but one that I felt like I was missing this year -- the thorough enjoyment of the season. And as Mr. Magpie always says, as he sees me in my frantic, crazed moments of trying to jam a 30 hour day into a 24 hour time period, I need to let go. And so I decided this would be my gift to myself -- learning that it's not giving something up, but finding meaning beyond ritual.

I was cancelling social engagements left and right in lieu of work, missing out on things for the sake of deadlines and paying bills (still important, but it still sucked). I wasn't exactly Ebenezer Scrooge, but I was Scrooge-ing myself out of time with friends. A viewing of both Bill Murray's Scrooged and an 80s version of A Christmas Carol with George C. Scott made the old ghostly words of Jacob Marley ring in my head, about how every link of heavy chain one carries in the Afterlife was forged in this life, link by link, one regret at a time. This year in particular was dotted with notes of sadness; there were several losses in the Jaunty Circle of friends and family. While sad, they were reminders to take the time before it's stolen away. I saw friends combat illness and health issues -- more reminders that the decor of a home is empty without loved ones to fill it with joy. And so these Spirits of Christmas Past/Present/Future came to me in their own way, reminding me to not put the importance of holidays in object or self-imposed ritual, but in those around me. If it means giving up a Christmas tree in lieu of having a mind present and available to be with my loved ones, then so be it. And there are other Christmas holidays to come, my planning skills will be better, and even if they're not, this year will be proof that Christmas still comes to the Jaunty home, even without a tree. So this Birdy wishes you all a very Merry Christmas!!

Jaunty Fine Print:  design and photos by Denise Sakaki

This Birdy is forever inspired by handmade ornaments, this inspiration turning into outright envy and panic around the holidays, when I see all the beautiful handmade ornaments on places like Pinterest, turning me into the Green-Eyed Monster, coveting the precious craftiness. Which then puts me in a total tizzy over having enough time to make the dang things. Holiday vicious circle! My favorite example of a handmade ornament is from my Aunt Susan, who sent me these lovely creations she made years ago, when she was a newlywed and doing the perfect homemaker thing by reading Good Housekeeping or some such magazine, which suggested decorating some ornaments for the tree. Becauase at the time, it was the Betty Draper thing to do. The project asked for those retro-fabulous silk strand-covered styrofoam ball ornaments, which you use a meticulous amount of decorative pins, sequins and whatever fancy ribbon and brick-a-brack you have on-hand to make them into Faberge egg-like creations. 

Yeah, I didn't do any of that -- hence, their being inspiration-only. I  have no idea how long it took my Auntie Susan to make them, I'm just eternally grateful she passed them on to me so that I can enjoy them. In return for her craftiness, I wanted to bestow upon her and a few other lucky (or unlucky) souls some handmade ornaments of my own. My version was relatively easy to do with just the bare minimum of patience required. Thanks to craft stores which have things you never even knew you needed/wanted,  you can get boxes of clear glass ornaments. They're lovely and bubble-like on their own, and I've seen some amazing craft projects where people hang multiple sizes like chandeliers, making an incredible centerpiece. I'm not this ambitious. I loved the idea of filling the clear ornaments with fun, interesting textures, so I filled several with plain red feathers, which looked beautiful. Then I raised the bar and added gold leaf to ones filled with white feathers -- incredibly messy, but wonderful result. The last ornament "style" was care of our own paper shredder. I saw some filled ornaments with strips of paper having writing on it. I went the lazy/easy route and pulled some bits from our shredder, plus shredded some decorative papers of our own to fill it with some color and shine. Using a thin pencil, I slowly stuffed each ornament and used some super-duty glue that's both metal and glass-adhesive to cap the hanging hook back on. Get it from a craft store or just get a tube of Superglue - you want this to stick. The caps and metal loops are designed to hold on their own when attached to the glass ornaments, but I wanted to seal the deal and ensure the hook wouldn't separate, as sometimes they're a little loose. Broken glass = not holiday magic.

So, here's one of the Magpie's crafty attempts at a homemade Christmas. I hope my aunt likes the ornaments, although I'm fairly certain she doesn't even decorate a tree anymore. I'm a terrible niece.


Jaunty Fine Print:  Photos taken by Denise Sakaki

I'll be home for Christmas / You can count on me / Please have snow and mistle toe / And presents under the tree / Christmas Eve will find me / Where the lovelight gleams / I'll be home for Christmas / If only in my dreams

It's such a bittersweet song, no? This Bird happily preens her feathers for holiday festivities, but at the heart of things, Christmas has always been about home, and the yearning to return to that imaginary place of romanticized simpler times. I always feel a touch of sadness during the holidays; it's easy to become emotional thinking of the ones you love, and even moreso now that I don't go back to spend it with my family (have you seen the airfare prices? oy!). Even when I was decking the halls with Mom and Dad, I'd get that twinge of nostalgia, start flipping through family albums and remember so many holidays come and gone. It's hard not to get misty-eyed, seeing old childhood memories and times spent with loved ones, trapped in the amber of a Kodak moment.

Recently, my mother mailed me our old tree skirt and multi-pocketed stocking she had sewn many moons ago when I was still leaving cookies and milk out for the sugar-addled Jolly Old Elf. Mom has always been a crafty bird at heart and has been the inspiration for being creative and keeping busy. These projects were two of her most accomplished creations. It was both comforting and a little sad to have these in our Washington home for Christmas. They always symbolized the home of family, of time spent with my parents and a childhood I've always been a little reluctant to fully step away from. To have them in my own home now, as an adult, felt like the official passing of the baton, that it was time to start making new Christmas memories and think about how to build traditions of my own. No pressure, right?? 

Maybe that was why I was a little slow to decorate the house this year. I even dared to consider not putting up the tree (gasp!). Somehow, by putting these items out with the things my mother sent, it would seal the deal of my truly "owning" Christmas from now on. Which is silly, as I've been decorating my home with tons of sparkly tinsel madness for years, but it did feel especially meaningful when I hung that stocking that still has my grade school photo in the frame pocket upon our own fireplace. I wrapped the tree with my mother's tree skirt, little patchwork teddy bears and Christmas trees encircling the design. These items that had always been in my mother's care had been finally passed on, a needleworked destiny fulfilled.

When I looked at the fully decorated house, I realized I had the support group of many years of memories to surround us. Ornaments I can name from childhood on through adulthood, remembering the people who gave them, all hung on the tree. Handmade decorations given to our family that my mom has been steadily mailing to me, one Priority Mailbox at a time like a mobile Hoarders service, finding new corners of our house to adorn. The holiday cards have been steadily flowing in, with printed cards giving way to picture cards of new babies and growing families. I step back to look at everything around me, and I realize, this is it. I am home. The hanging of a favorite ornament, putting up the latest Christmas card that came in the mail, even the smell of baked goods fresh from the oven --  it's all been slowly collecting and building up to a home-spun pastoral of the holiday firmly resided in the mind's eye. It took the process of time and a patchwork stocking from my past to generate all that's best of the Christmas spirit, a surrounding of familiarity and tradition. I really will be home for Christmas this year, returning to the dreams decked in ornaments of the past, with room for more memories to come.

A Jaunty Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night.


Jaunty Fine Print:  photo by Denise Sakaki

 

I'm dreamin' tonight of a place I love
Even more then I usually do
And although I know it's a long road back
I promise you

I'll be home for Christmas
You can count on me
Please have snow and mistletoe
And presents under the tree
Christmas Eve will find me
Where the love light beams
I'll be home for Christmas
If only in my dreams

- I'll Be Home for Christmas, lyrics by Kim Gannon & Walter Kent

My oh my... the first Christmas this Bird is spending in her own home. Usually, I fly off for the holidays to spend it with my family. After last year's winter freeze, I decided to keep it merry under my own roof, with Mr. Magpie and the Miss Indy the Pupple. Sometimes the best holidays are the ones where new traditions are born.

The Magpie wishes everyone a very merry Christmas! And if you don't celebrate Christmas, warm seasons greetings all the same, from our sparkly-obsessed Magpie house to yours.

 

It seems like forever ago that the sun had visited Seattle, but the Magpie was out looking for shiny things in the unique and lovely neighborhood of Ballard on one of those rare wintery days, with the spirit of the holidays and a hot latte to warm her heart. 

Nestled in the northern part of Seattle, Ballard is probably best-known for the Hiram M. Chittendon Locks, more commonly and simply called the Ballard Locks, where boats can move between Lake Washington and Puget Sound through engineering magic I'm not prepared to go into on this post. It's a charming neighborhood with a history spanning the late 1800s, which makes it an ideal place to wander for a spell, exploring the cobblestone streets, absorbing its ambience, and visiting the unique shops and restaurants.

I visited some favorite places, off the main thoroughfare of Market Street and was happy to see they did not disappoint in their holiday decor and goodies. Velouria is an absolute treasure of a shop, specializing in jewelry, accessories and clothing, featuring the talented work of local artists. Everything feels like a new discovery, and it's easy to get lost in their adorable, cozy shop. It's nearly impossible to walk out of there without something sparkly -- I managed to pick up a little treasure for a friend's holiday gift. I also made sure to visit Lucca on Ballard Avenue, an amazing shop that sells delightful stationery, books, and baubles for both home and garden. In the spring and summer, it's a treat to walk into the jewelbox garden they have at the back of their shop. Their store reminds me a bit of a Victorian cabinet of curiosities, full of fanciful whimsy and unique treasures under glass.

There was a definite holiday spirit in the neighborhood, but even when it's not Christmas, Ballard is always a treat to visit, as it's a vibrant community that is clearly well-loved by its dwellers. Walking through its streets, visiting its book shops, record stores and perusing through clothing boutiques -- it's a truly picture-perfect neighborhood of thoughtful, quirky style, and an inspired reminder to always live joyfully within the details.