feelin' a little christmassy: {today i love} plus some

hello all! many of my favorite bloggers use the {today i love} idea and i'm joining in. with thanksgiving just around the corner and christmas music and movies being played i can't help but think toward the holidays. being the paper nut that i am, this year i'm planning on making the wrapping just as special (or more!) than the gift. here are some ideas that i'm going to try!

i just love the look of this. it is perfect for the person getting multiple items! and i love the idea of putting a christmas carol on each card. LOVE LOVE.

creating personalized labels?! right up my alley. i think i'll get to work now. all though, i do love the look of something handwritten too...

i love the simplicity of this...it is so clean and classic. especially loving the tiffany blue and silver. tiffany blue is the most popular color this year!

haha, i just think that this is SO creative. lumps of coal? i can't wait to get someone something little to try this out. perfect for diamonds (as pictured) or anything else little...the best surprises come in small packages you know!

how adorable is this? candy canes!

on another note - has everyone tried the new candy cane kisses. i am totally addicted!

i think this is great! covering boring boxes with a vintage postcard or a magazine clip-out, personalized for the person receiving the gift?

martha has totally outdone herself!

i'm looking forward to this week. work will be busy and kaeli and i have lots planned. including whiteys :) it's been a little weird knowing that it's thanksgiving and half of our family is missing in new york (not ACTUALLY missing, don't worry) but i'm also looking forward to creating new traditions and memories with my family-in-love in missouri. i am SO glad that kaeli has decided to come with me, chances are she will have to see them a lot in the future. i can't wait to hear all about mom, tom, martin and ali's adventures together. (i already know that they are all together at martin & ali's neighborhood bar - so jealous!)

it seems that everyone i know is getting engaged, which of course has me thinking about it. although i can't help but feel jealous of them, i am patient. i don't want to rush in to anything. scott and i have both been through some rough times and i don't want to go through them again or put any children through it(not that i want to think about that at all). i know that IF we make that decision, it will come when we are both ready to make that commitment. sometimes i wonder if people my age really think about the commitment and meaning of a marriage - it isn't something you can decide of knowing each other for a year or two (although you might think you know the person). marriage is an important decision that affects more than just you and your future spouse - your families are involved, your friends and perhaps children. this past year i have seen/heard about so manny marriages falling apart (hello, jon & kate!) and it just feels that no one is truly understanding of such a decision and the meaning of it is falling by the wayside. i think seeing what divorce can do (him more than me) we both know the weight of such a decision...besides, right now i would rather have a puppy than a ring (and maybe a condo). :) (not that i'm not happy for my friends or doubting their life-changing decisions...PLUS weddings are pretty much how i make a living!)

in other news....the hawkeyes won this weekend. WHOO-HOO! it was actually a very boring game. i'm so glad that we won and can't wait to see where we will be bowl-wise. (mizzou beat iowa state too...and any win over the cylcones is a good one. go tigers!)

images from marthastewart.com