HAPPINESS IS...

A Christmas Song For You

Hi friends. I recorded a little song for you. A holiday favorite. Just me and my ukulele, mellow lullaby style. I hope you enjoy.

Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas - By Shannon Eileen 

Please excuse the demo quality recording and mediocre uke playing skills! Normally, I wouldn't dare share anything until it's slick and final, but I'm really trying to embrace imperfection these days. If you'd like to download the MP3, email me and I'll be happy to send it your way. I guess this is my way of saying thank you. For your friendship, comments and support throughout the years.

I'll be pressing pause on the blog for a couple of weeks to focus on what Christmas is truly about. Being present. Spending time with family and friends. I'm also working on a few creative endeavors that need my full attention. I'll reveal those in the new year, along with a new blog re-design! I plan to pop in for a New Years post, but beyond that, it will be pretty quiet around these parts. Come find me on Instagram if you'd like to stay in touch.

Have a beautiful holiday season, my loves. xo

Our 2013 Holiday Card From Tiny Prints

They're here! Our holiday cards have arrived and I can't wait to send them out. We had a lot of fun with them this year. My brother Christopher came over, wrapped us up in colored lights and shot us in the dark. Our inspiration was one-part Wes Anderson, one-part dork. What do you think?

We used Tiny Prints again, my beloved long-time sponsor. I'm always so impressed with their beautiful selection of designer cards. The modern Happy Everything design by Robyn Miller was perfect because (a) it looked great with our photo, (b) Hal is Jewish, and (c) it doubles as a New Year's card. All bases covered!

Would you like to see a few outtakes?

I promise my face-making skills are better than this, but it was quite challenging to change expressions without moving the lights. Believe it or not, each bulb had to be strategically placed so we didn't look too nightmarish. Our mistake was using icicle-style lights, as they were extra hard to control. In the last photo, Christopher captured the kiss just as Hal's lights fell off his head. But doesn't the movement effect look cool?

If you're on the fence about sending cards, it's not too late to order from Tiny Prints before the holidays. Even if they don't arrive until after Christmas (heck, even New Year's), family and friends still love getting them. I know I do!

P.S. Our holiday card from 2012, none from 2011 (fail), 2010 and 2009 (our very first one).


This post is sponsored by Tiny Prints. The content and opinions are all my own. Thank you for supporting the sponsors that keep Happiness Is running!

{Images by Christopher Bachmann Photography}

Questions For You - What's Your Fondest Holiday Memory From Childhood?

Welcome to the holiday edition of Questions For You. I've been inspired by the home movies my dad recently converted from slides to VHS to digital. Here's our little family in action, set to the classic record, A Merry Mancini Christmas, featuring a solo at the end by yours truly, age 3. I'm so grateful to have these videos. They always bring me happy tears.

Friends, I'd love to know, now that Christmas will soon be here...

What is your fondest holiday memory from childhood?

My answer... aah, it's hard to choose just one. I have sweet memories of my family decorating the tree. I'd search for the perfect branch to place my special Shannon ornament, a brass angel ringing her bell. My dad would lift me high up into the air to place the homemade tinfoil star on top. And on Christmas Eve, we'd make snowballs: ice cream rolled in coconut. At midnight, we'd place a candle in each, sing Silent Night, and make a wish. We still do, to this day.


{Images via The Little Hermitage}

Calligraphy Christmas Carols

Now that I've completed the modern calligraphy class, I've become a bit obsessed. In no way am I close to mastering this art, but I'm finally pleased enough with my work to share a few holiday pieces on the blog. Definitely making progress, as you can see from my first Instagrams here and here.

I've been practicing every spare moment I get. Our little dining room table is now permanently littered with nibs, pads of paper, ink droplets and tubes of goache. I love nestling into the corner by the window with a cup of tea, slowly and methodically writing out lyrics. I find it very meditative.

P.S. Next, I plan to take a digitizing calligraphy class. And then hand lettering! I'm a learning junkie.

Scandinavian Christmas

Hanging stars, antler chandeliers, rustic wood piles, flickering candles, clean white walls and minimal trees. Scandinavian Christmas homes never cease to inspire.


{Images 1 and 3 via Femina; 2 and 4-10 via My Scandinavian Home}

Winter

Do you have any big plans for the weekend? We'll be attending a holiday party Saturday night and spending our days snuggled up at home. My favorite place in the world. I hope to do a little holiday decorating, some drawing, a bit of singing, and lot of resting.

Stay cozy, my dears. Here are a few festive weekend links...

What my tree will look like this year. 

What we'll be making from scratch for Christmas dinner this year.

6 stylish holiday party outfits.

Colorful Christmas ice cubes.

Is it too late to DIY this beautiful advent calendar?

A visual guide to serving holiday finger foods.

Such a pretty winter cake.

Make a modern Christmas tree shelf.

12 clever gift wrapping techniques.

Every house should have a holiday hot cocoa station.

 

And some posts of mine you may have missed...

• Rustic Christmas Decor
• Retro Holiday Gift Wrap Sets 
• A Romantic Winter

 

{Original image via Cabin Porn contributed by Jody Johnston}

Lavender Hot Chocolate

While I wait for the snow to fall, I'll build a myself a fire and make a rich cup of lavender hot chocolate. Exactly how Jurgita makes it, Lithuanian style. With a sweater.

Except I might replace the heavy cream with almond milk. Is that sacrilege?


{Images by Bread And Games}

How To Elope In Vegas

Stephanie and Micah flew from Australia to elope in Las Vegas, sight unseen! With the help of their local photographer, they somehow managed to avoid the tacky and embrace the kitchy. Well done, love birds.

Would you ever elope in Vegas?

P.S. If you're curious, she got her dress here.


{Images via East Side Bride by Gaby Jeter}

Cute & Quirky Illustrated Holiday Cards

Madly in love with these illustrated holiday cards from the wild and creative imagination of miss Laura Berger. I'm fairly certain we'd be friends in real life.

Are you planning to send out holiday cards this year? We're taking some photos tonight. Which means, if all goes according to schedule, they might actually arrive in mailboxes before the New Year! That would be a first for us.


{Images by Laura Berger}

Cold Days, Hot Reiki

Seattle hit 19 degrees this weekend! With sadly, not a hint of snow. But cold days like these are great for learning reiki. Our hands were on fire with all that healing energy! I need a bit of time to settle into my new abilities and make sense of the massive amount of information swirling around in my brain, but I promise to give you a rundown one day soon.

For now, I can tell you this. Reiki, like perfectly symmetrical ice crystals that fall from the sky... is something close to magic.


{Images by Alexey Kljatov}

Healing To Your Spirit

 

My mother and I are taking a Reiki Level I and II certification course this weekend. I am beyond excited. I did what I thought was reiki on Bailey when she was alive, but I was clueless back then. Ever since, I've been fascinated with this beautiful ancient healing art. I hope to practice Reiki mostly on myself, any friends or family who are interested, and of course, animals who may roam my way. Next week, if you're curious, I'll share with you our class experience.

Have a peaceful weekend, loves. Please enjoy the links...

Home sweet school bus home.

10 ways to get over blogger's block. 

A lovely round-up of wooden toys.

Best idea: hire a photographer for your bachelorette.

Wishing I was in NY for this children's book exhibit.

Gorgeous rustic table inspiration.

Make an enchanted bottle brush forest.

Spicy chocolate candied pecans.

Trim the tree with homemade garlands.

3 great classic book cover redesigns.

And some posts of mine you may have missed...

• Another Winter Solstice
• Peppermint Hot Cocoa Ornaments
• Ice Skating

 

{Original image via Tempuros}

Stocking Stuffers From Uncommon Goods

1. Dinner Party Guest Book; 2. Love Letter Napkins; 3. Woolzies Dryer Balls; 4. Caterpillar Bud Vase; 5. Lumen LED Shadow Projectors; 6. Aquamarine Branch Ring; 7. Salts of the World Test Tube Set; 8. Soup and Crackers Bowl; 9. Make Your Own Ukulele Kit 

10. Bimodal Architectural Blocks; 11. Agate Coasters; 12. Carve A Stamp Kit; 13. Marimo Moss Ball Light Bulb Aquarium; 14. A Tree Grows Necklace; 15. Wine Pairing Towel Set; 16. What I Love About You By Me Book; 17. Wooden Martini Glasses; 18. Tipping Teacup

19. Wine-o-saur Wine Bottle Holder; 20. Flavor Infuser Water Bottle; 21. Baby Milestone Cards; 22. Geometric Candles; 23. Line Posters; 24. Real Sugar Maple Leaf Night Light; 25. DIY Lip Balm Kit; 26. Magnetic Flower Vase; 27. Stitch The Stars Calendar

I'm a full blown adult and I still get a stocking full of goodies each Christmas. Yes, my mom (errr Santa) spoils me. Granted, it's usually a satsuma orange, some hair ties, something practical like a toothbrush or floss, and a few pieces of chocolate if I'm lucky. But still. I feel like a kid again when I open my stocking on Christmas morning. It's the best tradition.

Maybe this year, my stocking will be filled with prezzies from Uncommon Goods. They truly have the best selection around if you're looking for unique designer items and custom products. I rounded up 27 of my favorite gifts, for the gals, the guys, and the babes, all small enough to fit inside a stocking.... okay, maybe an extra large stocking.

I really like to support Uncommon Goods. They're based in Brooklyn, and not only do they work with independent artists and designers (half of what they sell are handmade and one-third of their products are recycled/upcycled), but since they're a B-corp, they meet rigorous standards of social and environmental performance and accountability. Good people, good practices, good products. And I love how they want our input on the items them carry.

Do you do stockings at your house? What goodies would you like to see in yours?

This post is sponsored by Uncommon Goods. The content and opinions are all my own. Thank you for supporting the sponsors that keep Happiness Is running!

My Next Book Club Book

My little 4-person book club needs a new book to read. We just finished Ender's Game. Strangely enough, we chose it right before we learned there was a movie coming out. I really enjoyed both the book and the film, but we'll probably want to steer of sci-fi this time around to switch things up. Typically, we love smooth lyrical juicy prose that makes us want to stay up into the wee hours of the night to read "just one more chapter". Who doesn't, really?

Here are the books we've read thus far, which as you can see, run the gamut...

The Kite Runner
Breakfast At Tiffany's
Eat Pray Love
Lolita
A Confederacy of Dunces
Brave New World
My Horizonal Life
The Master and Margarita
The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay
And Then There Were None
Lit
Lost Girls
Water For Elephants
100 Years of Solitude (in which we collectively re-named: A Bajillion Years of Solitude!)
Little Bee
Extremely Loud And Incredibly Close
Heat
Norwegian Wood
The Prince of Tides
Ender's Game
Red Rising

(Bookies, did I miss any?)

A friend of mine raved about The Goldfinch by Donna Tarrt. Have you read that one? What other books would you recommend for us? I'd love to know what you've been reading lately!


{Image via 8 Tracks}

DIY - 3 Holiday "In-A-Jar" Gifts

You guys, I'm such a sucker for "in-a-jar" gifts. Remember Christmas in a Jar? And Dreams in a Jar? Here are 3 more fun ideas for the holidays that you can make yourself...

• Party in a Jar
• Brownies in a Jar
• Gift Card in a Jar

They're the perfect gift for teachers, neighbors and hostesses, don't you think? Which one is your favorite?


{Images by: 1. 2. Life Made Lovely; 3. 4. Call Me Cupcake; 5. 6. The Creative Mama}

Making A List

Now that Thanksgiving is behind us, I can fully immerse myself in all things Christmas. Decorating, cooking, and listening to holiday classics. Notice I didn't mention shopping. This is my least favorite part of the holidays. Yes, I love to gift, but I don't love the craziness that ensues. Me and big crowds aren't friends. My idea of a happy Black Friday is staying cozy at home drinking black tea in front of the black telly. I buy everything online. Browse, click, surprise on doorstep, done. How do you do your holiday shopping? Have you started yet?

P.S. You can download and print this extra cute Christmas list over on A Pair of Pears.


{Image by Jake & Jamie Bartlett}