NC MADE

Cross Creek Box

featuring Farmer's Daughter Brand Preserves, Copper Pot and Wooden Spoon Pickles, and Mt Olive First United Methodist Church Blister Fried Peanuts

$39 from NC MADE

NC MADE are these totally awesome thoughtfully curated beautifully packaged gift boxes stuffed full of handcrafted NC-made edibles. The company was recently launched by my new friend Nicole Bogas who has traveled all over the great state of North Carolina sampling and selecting each product that goes into her brown paper packages tied up with string. YES! You heard it right! There is brown paper and string involved! They include all sorts of delectable snacks and fancy drink mixers, and right now she has four different gift sets to pick from at various price points, so you're sure to find something for anyone in your life who deserves a nice present. Which is pretty much everyone you know, right? Yeah, I thought so. Check out www.ncmade.net for some seriously tasty treats. 

A closer look inside the Cross Creek Box

Plank Road Box

featuring Cloister Honey, Ritchie Hill Bakery Cheese Straws, Big Spoon Roasters Peanut Butter, Farmer's Daughter Brand Preserves, and Copper Pot and Wooden Spoon Pickles

$59 from NC MADE

Inside the Longleaf Box

featuring Hickory Nut Gap Farm Milano Salami, Crooked Condiments Autumn Night Apple Butter, Blue Blaze and Soda Syrup Co. Honey Ginger Ale Soda Syrup, Num Num Southern Grilling Sauce, Big Spoon Roasters Peanut Pecan Butter, and Ritchie Hill Bakery Cheese Straws

$79 from NC MADE

Old North State Cocktail Box

featuring White Whale Cocktail Mixer, Crude Rizzo Bitters, Blue Blaze and Soda Syrup Co. Honey Ginger Ale Soda Syrup, Hickory Nut Gap Farm Milano Salami, and Mt Olive First United Methodist Church Blister Fried Peanuts

$79 from NC MADE

- Cathleen

On the Move!

We're moving today! So I don't have much to report besides that. 

I really wish the Etsy seller Anamarko was still making and selling these awesome custom hand-painted miniature wooden houses. It would have been the perfect house-warming present for me to give Micky (and myself?) today. 

Now I guess he'll just have to settle for backaches and strained muscles. The gifts that keep on giving!

See you next week, friends! 

- Cathleen 

Let's Pretend Gift Guide: Part 3

 The final chapter of the Let's Pretend Gift Guide! Comin' attcha!

If we gave each other Christmas gifts, here is how it would go: 

Happy Holiday, Grace McNicholas! 

Now this hypothetical Christmas gift is neither as useful nor quite as affordable as the last two, but I haven't found anything that screams "Grace" more. This Turquoise Bar Ring from Sasa Jewelry is a bold statement piece that I think would add a great pop of color to any and all of the tres fashionable things you wear day to day.

Hope you like it! 

P.S. Dear Readers! On a slightly related note, we will all be taking a short break from the blog until the first of the year. (I just couldn't leave poor Grace without an imaginary gift to open.) Thank you for coming round to read what we write! We so appreciate your support. And we look forward bringing you more beautiful things in 2014 to brighten your days and inspire you!

See you in the New Year!

- Cathleen 

Let's Pretend Gift Guide: Part 2

Once again, we bring you another installment of the Let's Pretend Gift Guide!

If we gave each other Christmas gifts, here is how it would go: 

Happy Christmas, Alissa Lively! 

Because of your appreciation of the great Josef Albers, I found this Orbit Wall Clock made by ObjectifyHomeware. I thought it would compliment your cozy home, help keep you on schedule during your busy days, and inspire your love of color all in one fell swoop. 

Hope you like it! 

- Cathleen 

Let's Pretend Gift Guide: Part 1

I've been neck deep in a serious online Christmas gift search for the last week. I'm determined to get all of my shopping done as soon as possible so that I can enjoy the holiday season with nothing hanging over my head but mistletoe. During my internet explorations, I've come across a couple of things that made me think of my Swings and Arrows crew members. I thought I'd post a gift for each of them once a week leading up to Christmas. Maybe you guys will see something for a special someone in your life?

So Merry Christmas, Brian Searby!

If we bought each other gifts, here is what I would give you:

The EDC Magnesium Fire Starter Keychain

This fire starter from Kaufmann Mercantile can ignite tinder with its hot sparks and create an emergency signal that can be seen in the dark a mile away. The perfect tool for your many camping trips and mountainous hikes.

Hope you like it! 

- Cathleen 

Under This Moon

I know, I know. More moon stuff. But this! This beautiful necklace is just the thing! 

You provide the month, date, year and location where the auspicious occasion took place, and Lorena Martinez-Neustadt of Gemagenta will custom engrave the lunar phase from that day in sterling silver to celebrate your special event, with the date on the flip side. Not into necklaces? (What kind of monster are you?) It also comes in ring or charm bracelet form.

This would be an incredibly poignant and thoughtful gift to commemorate the night that you met each other, to mark the significance of becoming a new mother, or the moment that she set foot on this earth. (Hint hint.)

You can find this and more of Lorena's jewelry in her Etsy shop, Gemagenta. 

- Cathleen 

Best Present Ever

Sorry, friends, family, and loved ones. I hate to break it to you, but Micky's done it. He's officially given me the best present ever. An illustration created from a photo of us by Sadie Solomon (who has such a great name, right?) of EmmieBean. I was taken by complete surprise when he told me to close my eyes and hold out my hands (his patented method for wrapping gifts) on my birthday last week and presented me with the most thoughtful, wonderful gift I've ever received, evidenced by the fact that I burst into tears immediately upon seeing it. I miiight have been a little hormonal at the time, but I'm pretty sure it had more to do with the fact that he's just the best husband ever. I really am the luckiest (and braggiest) girl in the world. Sadie can compose a portrait from pretty much any photograph (check out her website for more examples of her work), making it the perfect gift for anyone you want to make cry on their special day.

We've been framed! 

- Cathleen