2013 holiday gift guide: shop local

one // two // three // four // five

six // seven // eight // nine

Small Business Saturday is coming soon, and this year I'm inspired to give gifts that are meaningful and support small businesses. A personalized dog bowl for my sister's new puppy, monogrammed jewelry dish for my newly married bestie, and an adorable animal print for our friends with a new bundle of joy, all supporting local artists and business ladies, are some of my top picks for this giving season.

Do you make a conscious effort to support small businesses?

Monday notes

I have some fun things in the works, but in the meantime, I'm getting really excited for the holidays. We are hosting Thanksgiving at our house again this year, and then the day after will be a decorating frenzy. Few things get me as excited as decorating for Christmas!

In case you missed it, I'm back from a two-week vacation on the west coast: to Seattle, Portland, Napa, and photos from San Francisco coming soon. I'm spending the day snuggling with my Sprout before I get into cleaning the house and doing other chores.

The Everygirl has some great tips on how to do well at a meeting.

Don't miss Piperlime's 25% off items under $100 sale!

Some items I'm coveting this season: over-the-knee boots, a monogram necklace, elbow-length leather gloves, a dog bed with Sprout's name on it, and much more vacation time.

image via

Sprout Saturday: Sprout's hair diary

Having a dog with hair rather than fur makes for some interesting looks (and photos), especially when it's been too long between haircuts - see Exhibit A toward the bottom of this post. 

Sometimes they cut too much on top but leave a large beard... and then Sprout thinks he looks like a professor, so he wears a bow tie.

Other times there is the "Mr. Miyagi", with too much on the sides and not enough elsewhere.

Sprout's embarrassed by this next photo, taken when his hair was far too long (and he had just woken up). Friends, this is what will happen if you have a non-shedding dog and don't take him for a haircut every 8 weeks. It's not pretty (but it's kind of cute).

In the winter Sprout likes a little more fuzz to help keep out the cold. It helps him pose for photos in the snow. This is one of my favorites.

Sprout asks you to kindly not judge him (or me) for the ridiculous photos of him. It happens.

Sprout Saturday: Welcome

I recently came across a new-to-me blog, The Semi-Designed Life, and cracked up at the "Watson Wednesday" series highlighting her dog. I'm also kind of obsessed with Decor and the Dog, another fab blog. And that, dear readers, means that you now get your very own Sprout Saturdays, where I will share ridiculousness from my dog's life. He's kind of cute, right?

Sometimes he thinks he's a model (which is great, because I ended up using this photo - edited, of course - for our Christmas cards last year).

pet favorites

I've written about my little guy before, so it shouldn't be a surprise that I love having a dog. I tend to put a fair amount of my budget on the fuzzy face that greets me every morning because he deserves it.

Aside from the obvious food, vet care, and bags upon bags of treats, there are things I splurge on so my little guy is always comfortable, whether we're in the living room or away for a weekend.

a bowl for on-the-go (this one from Wildebeest, available on Gilt Groupe)  // stylish neckwear, like this recycled-material collar from Found My Animal // a snuggly bed (or one for each room) // his favorite toy - these Martha Stewart guys are basically indestructible // a cozy throw for naps on the couch