Tis the season...for gift guides

If you are a reader of blogs (and hey-- you are on one now so I guess you are), then you will know exactly what I am talking about, it is the season of Holiday Gift Guides. Blogs are a perfect place for this with great layouts options and ways to link directly to the stores. If you are looking for a great one, Creature Comforts does an spectacular job, breaking down gifts into a bunch of specific categories and offers some really unique gift.

But as I see it, all of these great gift guides are all paying homage to the greatest gift guide of all time. And by that I mean, the granddaddy of them all, the most head exploding, mind melting, pee in your pants gifts…It's Oprah's Favorite Things.

 For years, this has been my most favorite episode. Sure, I love seeing what Oprah picks. I may have even made a purchase myself based on the great ones picks.  But really, the magic of this show is watching the audience and their reaction to each gift that they are going to bring home, or rather have shipped to their home that day.

Now that the Oprah Show is no more, Favorite Things was existing only in her magazine. But this year, they decided to bring it back on the OWN channel. With an audience of 35 military spouses as the recipients of Oprah's favorite things, it was again TV magic. I laughed, I cried, I basically smiled giddily the entire show. It's running now on the OWN channel, I highly recommend watching during any down time you may have. It's pretty great. I mean, come on, look at these reactions!

Seen on Bumps and Curves

Seen on Oh No They Didn't!

Image seen on The Bridesmaid Diaries 

 

 

tai dye.

My good friend Tai's birthday is at the end of May. In 2011, I made her a picnic blanket that I dyed navy. I then forgot to give it to her for over a year. So for her next birthday, I figured I should probably make some cloth napkins that matched the blanket that was still sitting on a table at my house. Thought you might like to see how I did it. 

Step #1 I picked up these white cotton napkins from Target. They are probably more kitchen towels than napkins but I loved their size, especially at a picnic when you don't know what the terrain is going to be like. Use what you like!

Step #2 Pick your water base color paint. Disclaimer, I saw this ideaanother blog and now I cannot remember where. Once I find it, I will put the link up. This other blog is how I knew what kind of paint to use. I went with a really pretty orange.

Step #3 Test the water. I used pretty hot water and squeezed the paint in. I later went back and put more in for a deep color on some of the napkins.

Step #4 Dip baby dip! For some I dipped the napkins in all the way, for others, I just did the edge. It's totally up to you and your ability to control how water soaks through cotton (i.e. no control)

Step #5 Let those mofo's dry. I actually ended up hanging them in the windows for 24 hours to make sure they were totally dry before I shipped them off to Tai.

Step #6 A-duh....use them!

Have you been doing any DIY'ing lately? Do you know what blog I saw this project on? Tai, are you there? Do you like them? What other DIY sites do you all like? Fill me in guys!