Enjoying the Small Things

Enjoying the Small Things

Dryer Ball Snowman Ornaments

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If you’re looking for a cute and simple ornament craft for this holiday week, we made these little snowmen ornaments last week, and they turned out so cute! I used to make a styrofoam ball version of these with my fifth grade students, but the dryer ball ones are way cuter. It’s a great craft to make with a group of kids/siblings because you can buy dryer balls and socks in multi-packs.

Here’s what you need:

 

We used these socks and these ones, and both the toddler and little kid sizes worked great because they stretch. We used these dryer balls which run a little over $1 each. You can find little carrots or something comparable in the miniature aisles of a craft store, or there are lots online—like these ones (200 in a pack—ha!), these ones or this cute button version. The thread/string is to tie the hat shut. You don’t really need the needle if you want to secure a hanging ribbon with glue (for those who are scared off by any sewing :o), but I used it to sew a string loop to the inside of the hat to hang it on the tree when the ornament was finished.

1. Stretch the open end of the sock around the dryer ball to where a hat would sit. Hot glue under the edge of the hat and secure to dryer ball.

2. Snip the top of the sock off to your desired hat height. ‘

3. Tie a string around the top of the hat (I left a little bit of the sock to show) and tightly secure with a knot.

4. Hot glue the carrot nose and paint on eyes, pink cheeks and a mouth. If you use a carrot nose that has a little “insert extension,” just poke the dryer ball with some sharp scissors to create a little hole for the extension to go into.

5. Secure a hanging loop string or ribbon with a needle & thread or hot glue (you could even safety pin it to the back of the sock). And that’s it! Your ornament is done.

*A friend just reminded me dryer balls are great for holding essential oil scents, so if you want to level up, try rubbing some peppermint, balsam or clove scented oil to make your ornament holiday extra.

These make cute gifts for grandparents, friends or an adorable way to decorate a gift. Our tree is happier.

Happy Monday!

You’ve Got Mail Fall Movie Night

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Every September, I kick off the fall movie season by making an event of the First Viewing (proper noun, of course) of You’ve Got Mail. The You’ve Got Mail fan club is a loyal, passionate group of individuals who may argue over the best quote from the movie—“thank your”— but agree on the fact that it’s a cinematic masterpiece, one of the best feel-good movies of all time. Besides the comforting 90’s nostalgia (ah, the sound of a dial-up modem connecting to the Internet), there is a buffet of sensory delights that never fails to charm me no matter how many times I’ve seen the movie (over 50, I’m sure.). That buffet includes Kathleen Kelly’s timeless fall wardrobe (last year, I recreated four of her looks with a 9-piece Kathleen Kelly capsule), New York in the fall, every little charming detail in Kathleen Kelly’s apartment that would be just as darling today as was when it was filmed, coffee shops, a streets-of-New York moment featuring the song “Dreams” by the Cranberries that will make you never be able to hear the song again without thinking of Meg Ryan walking under a canopy of fall trees, and then…the bookshop. Oh that little children’s bookshop with its enchanting twinkle lights and pumpkins and lamps and story hours.

…I’m getting carried away. All that to say, I save this movie every year to watch in the fall, with a fire in the fireplace and a mug of cider in my hands. This year called for a little more though, so I invited a few friends to join me (we are keeping our circle very small for anything indoors) for all the fall things we’re craving and an entire evening dedicated to You’ve Got Mail. I made my mom’s red lentil soup, served it with New York soft pretzels and tried to inject YGM love into all the details.

Naturally, Kathleen Kelly pajamas:

Tall Decaf Cappuccino cups that we did not use for Tall Decaf Cappuccinos.

The friendliest flowers, of course.

The shoe books…

“I bet you just love that Mr. Darcy”…

My father-in-law printed me a movie poster. :o)

New York in the fall cookies.

I painted little treat bags with YGM symbols…

…and filled them with:
– a candle (to make your apartment smell mossy)
– a bouquet of freshly sharpened pencils
– NY 152 stickers (I bought this 6-pack and added my own label)
– Tall Decaf Cappuccinos
– and a handkerchief (“a handkerchief is a Kleenex that you don’t throw away.”)

We all wore pajamas and feasted on the perfect movie snacks after soup.

It was a very Kathleen Kelly-approved cozy friend night, and now I want to repeat it every weekend.

We didn’t twirl, but I did do my best convince them all that Tom Hanks is sexy. Cheers to that.

Know a You’ve Got Mail fan? Make a themed gift box for them for a holiday gift this year.

Favorite Movie Themed Gifts: You’ve Got Mail & Anne of Green Gables

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Last year for Christmas, I gave one of my favorite gifts I’ve ever given–a gift box to my sister, one I planned for months. We’ve been fans of the cult favorite movie You’ve Got Mail since it came out in the nineties and have adopted quotes and movie references into our everyday lives for years, from “Thank your” to “You are a lone reed.” We’ve admired Kathleen Kelly’s timeless pajamas, chosen daisies over roses forever convinced they are “friendlier,” and have started every Thanksgiving morning for the past twenty years greeting each other with a “Happy Thanksgiving” call or text followed by the other’s quick “Happy Thanksgiving back” reply. It was time to compile that YGM enthusiasm into a themed gift box, one I had so much fun putting together. The items didn’t need explanation for a true YGM fan, but I did attach little notes or movie scene photos to each item for fun. I shared the box on Instagram after she received it, and so many of you asked about what was in it (I love all the You’ve Got Mail lovers out there!), so I thought I’d compile a similar gift box here as well as one from another favorite of mine, Anne of Green Gables.

You’ve Got Mail Gift Box
(I wrapped the box in this city wrapping paper because it felt so very Shop Around the Corner)

1. Packet of Daisy Seeds – Kathleen’s favorite flower.

2. New York Taxi Ornament – Of course you’d have to take a fine tip permanent marker and add “152” after NCY.

3. Twinkle Lights – “It will all shake out. Meanwhile, I’m putting up more twinkle lights.”

4.  Embroidered Handkerchiefs  “A handkerchief is a Kleenex you don’t throw away.” Kathleen Kelly carried the one her mother embroidered for her, but this 6-pack of machine-embroidered ones are the next best thing.

5. F-O-X Tote Bag – This bag is sure to attract other YGM cult members.

6. Kathleen Kelly Pajamas – Perfect for checking your e-mail in. Sadly does not include adorable city apartment.

7. Noel Streatfeild’s Skating Shoes “I’d start with Ballet Shoes, it’s my favorite; although Skating Shoes is completely wonderful.”

8. Tall Decaf Cappuccino Framed Art I printed one like this and framed it myself in a little 4×6 frame for my sister, but if you are font-challenged, this downloadable version is perfect.

9. Fox Books Mug “Picket the big bad chain store” when you sip from this mug.

10. A Bouquet of Sharpened Pencils – Gather some sharpened pencils and secure a bow around them.

11. Twig & Moss Candle – “To make your apartment smell moss-ay”

 

Anne of Green Gables Gift Box
(wrapped in floral paper from Rifle Paper Company, of course, because they designed one of the new covers for Anne of Green Gables book)

1. Anne Straw Hat – How perfectly Anne is this hat?

2. The Landscapes of Anne of Green Gables – This gorgeous book is full of the story and photos behind the real places on Prince Edward Island that inspired the book scenes

3. Anne Tea Bottle & Sleeve Set– I found this site searching for Anne-inspired gifts, and the entire site is full of the most adorable literature-inspired treasures, including this glass tea tumbler with interchangeable sleeves

4. Anne of Green Gables Library Card Tote Bag 

5. Raspberry Cordial – for when Marilla leaves you home alone

6. Kindred Spirits Candle – (or less expensive Kindred Spirits Melters). Perhaps include a “lock of your tresses”

7. Literature Folding Mirror –  to keep in your carpet bag, of course

8. “Carrots” Chocolates 

9. Anne of Green Gables 108-Piece Puzzle

10 Slate & Soapstone Pencils – Love the way these soapstone pencils write! Great for displaying favorite quotes, but also great for practicing studies to stay ahead of Gilbert Blythe

11. Anne of Green Gables Sticker Set – Will inspire you to send snail mail just so you can stick these all over the envelopes!