Controlling Christmas

As someone who recently said; "I think everyone will have more fun if we each make our own gingerbread houses instead of making one giant gingerbread condo because I can get pretty control freaky in group craft situations," I found this article to be helpful.

Resource: "Mapping America Census Bureau 2005-9"

I love maps. I love maps even more when they illustrate other stuff like weather patterns and flight routes (Southwest Airlines cocktail napkins!). But here's what I really want to see: an interactive and wildly comprehensive geographic survey of American communities made using samples gathered between 2005 and 2009 by the Census Bureau that captures race and ethnicity, income, housing and education! What's that? There is one? Remarkable!

Vermont Country Store Pick #5: Lefty Scissors

I'm not a lefty and so I don't think I can accurately imagine the daily annoyances lefties must face in a world designed for righties. Let's show the lefties in our lives that we care and get a pair of scissors just for them.

Vermont Country Store Pick #4:Lanvin Arpege

""Promise her anything, but give her Arpege" was the slogan for this soft, sultry scent that makes women feel and smell beautiful. When Arpege, a powdery floral scent debuted In 1927, it found favor with Hollywood's glamorous femme fatales. One whiff of this eau de parfum will conjure memories of dancing the night away with your first love and inspire you to stroll hand in hand with someone you love today."-VCS
Get it here

Vermont Country Store Pick #3:Traditional Potholder Kit

Get it here

Vermont Country Store Pick #2: Boston's Mint-in-Tea, "a Favorite of the Kennedy White House"

Get it here.

Vermont Country Store Pick #1: Snowball Victim (Set of 2)

Get on here

Resource: Vermont Country Store

On a recent trip to my cousins' house, I spent a good deal of time with the Vermont Country Store catalog and I was reminded of how much I love it (I like to think of it as SkyMall's slightly more directed and utilitarian grandfather). So, for the next week I will be drawing your attention to my favorite products from the VCS.

"When a Trusted Brand Disappears" by Ricki Morell

As someone who doesn't even like when products change their packaging (Pictionary, you were once so lovely!), I was quite pleased with this article in yesterday's New York Times.

Product Appreciation: Sharpie Extra Fine Marker

Sharpie Fine Point Permanent Markers are too big. (These are the standard Sharpie size, don't be fooled by the name they're actually quite large)

Sharpie Ultra Fine Point Permanent Markers are too small.

Sharpie's Extra Fine Permanent Markers are juuuuuuuust right.

...however, they are the hardest ones to find (and they only come in 4 colors but you probably don't need a Valley Girl Violet or Banana Clip Yellow Sharpie anyway). So, should you come across a fleet of Extra Fines I would like to encourage you to give one a test drive. I think you'll find they handle with greater maneuverability than the Fine Point and offer a smoother ride than the flimsy Ultra Fine.