Sometimes there are no words and silence is golden.
From my Instagram feed Friday night. Click the photo if you wish to see the original and read my thoughts that night.
“By not talking too much about it. Silence is sometimes the best thing to do, holding a hand, hugging somebody.”
– Reverend Eugene Peterson, an except from this interview on Spiritual Strength in Times of Great Need
 
I love making my own gift baskets. They cost less than a store-bought version. Plus, they don’t need to be wrapped! (Call me lazy, but I prefer a pretty gift basket to a wrapped gift any day. And I’ve been known to pop a gift in a gift bag for an even easier “wrapping.” But, today I want to show you how to create this super simple and quick Warm & Cozy Chocolate Gift Basket.
If I ever quit blogging, I need to find a job where I can make gift baskets for a living ;-). Or maybe a job where I can sniff sawdust and drink coffee all day. Do you know of a job with those perks?
My last trip to the grocery store had me wandering down the seasonal aisle where I spotted warm fuzzy scarves for $6.99! (If you have a Kroger near you, look for them!) I thought they’d make great teacher gifts, but by themselves they seemed a little…errr meek? But, add some chocolate, gourmet hot cocoa mix and a mug and the recipient might just exclaim…Eeeeeek!
(I’ve included affiliate links for your convenience. I earn a small percentage from a purchase using these links. There is no additional cost to you. You can read more about affiliate links here.)
I get it, you may not want to fill your gift basket with sweets. No problem, here are a few warm and cozy ideas that don’t involve sugar.
The key to a beautiful gift basket is creating layers and propping things up so you can see everything.
Start by using tissue paper (bubble wrap and recycled cardboard under tissue paper can help hold heavier objects.)
Fold the scarf neatly inside the bottom but let the ends hang over the bin.
Work from tall to short putting the taller items in the back.
Add the rest of your gift items: hot chocolate mix, filler candies, basket filler, etc. If you have a paper shredder or pasta maker you can shred your own paper. Brown paper bags look like nest material when shredded.
Write on an ornament or tag using a permanent marker or ink pen to create a unique gift tag.
Prop up any items that sank and fill in any holes with more candy!
You can buy cellophane bags to protect your gift basket, but I prefer the eco-friendly option of just leaving the basket as is.
These Warm & Cozy Chocolate Gift Baskets look so cozy, warm, and —who am I kidding—YUMMY!!!
I hope this quick Warm & Cozy Chocolate Gift Basket took some of the stress off your gift-giving tasks this year.
This little key hook frame was incredibly easy to make and would make a great gift for a new homeowner or that college student who is moving into a new apartment. (Or for that special someone who is always losing their keys.) Read more
I love nature and her beautiful palette, even as winter sets in she showcases a beautiful white, green and red color theme in honor of the impending holidays. With these colors in mind, I decided to bring a little of this beauty indoors with these twig star ornaments.
2013 is right around the corner! Do you have your new calendar? I bet several people on your gift list don’t either. That’s why I think these tea towel calendars from Spoonflower would make a great gift.
Have you heard of Spoonflower? It is a custom fabric printing company that allows you to upload your own fabric patterns to print. But, you can also browse other designers’ fabrics and purchase yardage too. A month ago I happened to be browsing their website when I stumbled across these award winning tea towel calendar designs. They were absolutely adorable and I knew they’d make great gifts for a few young nieces I know. I ordered a few fat quarters (one calendar fits on one fat quarter of fabric) and anxiously awaited their arrival. (If you want to make your own calendar, order ASAP as their guaranteed delivery date for the holidays is December 17th.)
The material comes with unfinished edges, so they need a little sewing magic, but it won’t take more than 15 minutes if you pre-cut everything and have your sewing machine pre-threaded. Read more