the new awesome: December 2006

Holiday blur is the new awesome

I'm here in Utah visiting my family and friends...and now that all the crazy holiday chaos is winding down I thought it would be a good idea to reflect back on some of the awesome things that happened this past month. I realize there is much more new years fun still to come...but here's a look back at Christmas 2006.

Christmas tree killing in the Santa Cruz mountains.

Malibu Grand Prix after Christmas tree killing in the Santa Cruz mountains.

Death Cab for Cutie.

Iron-On birthday/Christmas extravaganza.

Roommate Christmas dinner at 2223.

Holiday sweater party.

Gift exchange party.

Jason asks Casey to marry him with iron-on t-shirts and she says yes!

Union Square.

Chicken for two.

Virgin Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus.

Sisters.

Christmas morning.

Merry Christmas is the new awesome

Merry Christmas from Joseph, Baby Jesus, Wiseman, Sheep and the Virgin Mary.

No seriously, Merry Christmas.

Holiday Traditions are the new awesome

There are a few things that happen in my family every year that really make it feel like the holidays.

The creatively wrapped gift
Every year my dad wraps one of his gifts to look like something cool - over the years we have had a robot, an empire state building, a fish tank, a cannon, a fridge, and many other interesting and intricately decorated gifts under the tree. This year? An old victrola.

The pickle in the tree
This is a funny tradition that we adopted based on the (alleged) german tradition where the parents hide a pickle ornament in the Christmas tree on Christmas morning, and the child that finds it first gets a little extra treat.

my sister found die Weihnachtsgurke this year (like she does every year), but then in her triumphant dance around the Christmas tree, she lost control of the pickle and it shattered against the piano. ha!

Rats off to ya
Every Christmas (at least since 2004) my brother and sister and I make sure to watch one of our favorite Tom Goes to the Mayor episodes, called Rats Off To Ya, where Tom comes up with a T-shirt with the phrase "Rats Off To Ya!" on it to sell in the mall in time for Christmas, but his idea is stolen. To participate in the same holiday joy, you can watch it here.

We've been on a little holiday hiatus here at the new awesome, but hopefully you have been enjoying your own family traditions and haven't even missed us. We will be back in 07 for plenty more fun. Merry Christmas!

Crafty Company parties are the new awesome

This weekend we really packed in the holiday parties. Friday night was the party for the magazine i work for, and I got to organize the craft fair portion of the evening, which was pretty awesome. I had over 20 local vendors come in and set up shop for the first half of the party so that our guests could come Christmas shopping and get all sorts of original handmade stuff.

Erica, Steve and Bets picked up some rad journals made from old book covers by Recover Your Thoughts

I know I talk about calendars all the time, but I picked up a lovely one by Good on Paper because i love all of her designs so much.

Since I was the boss of the craft fair, I also reserved a table for my friends and I to hoc our wares too. Emily, Grace, Amanda and I set up shop on this little table and Emily sweet talked all the passers-by

I had stayed up trying to finish gocco-ing all of these padded envelopes to sell the night before the party, but I think they turned out pretty cute.

Amanda had bunch of her lovely cups, bowls and jewelry...

Grace had sewn all sorts of wrist cuffs and purses

and Emily sold these rad earrings that she made from vintage metal robot charms...

as well as some cute ceramics that we had made at craft night a few weeks ago.

I also put our table right next to Jason Munn of the Small Stakes because he not only makes the most beautiful hand-screened rock posters, but he is pretty much the nicest guy ever.