This time of year, all the magazines have lists of interesting gifts for those hard-to-buy-for people on your gift list (they have everything they need and most of what they want). I'm joining the madness with some of the more unique or unusual things I've seen, and I think you should too! Comment with fun/interesting ideas for the rest of us!

These gorgeous, handmade photo frames and boxes from AnyCards at Etsy


I have some of these decorative tiles in my bedroom. They feature Chinese words, art, and zodiac symbols, and are handmade in Manitoba Canada. www.wildrosepottery.ca


These celebrity art prints are just fun. I'm partial to the Leonard Cohen one, but besides that and the King (above), they have all your angsty musicians & retro idols covered: PJ Harvey, Tom Waits, Kurt Cobain, Audry Hepburn, Humphry Bogart, et. al. He does custom orders as well, perfect for the narcissist on your list.
Lake Illustration at Etsy


Anthropologie.com has all these fun Christmas tree ornaments. Way better than Hallmark.


These gorgeous leather cuffs from Art of Spirit on Etsy


If she likes to cook, how about a fun, vintage-style apron from BoJiboo's shop on Etsy


Adorable little handmade dolls. You can even order custom ones! JB Fatcat Studio on Etsy


Personalized clip boards for the office workers among us. Or anyone who wants to look official. Slimdgm at Etsy


Pocket size puzzle books with sophisticated covers from The Container Store

I missed over half of Glee because my mom called me to complain about her ongoing internet problems. She lives in a very rural area that has only one phone/internet provider (& no cable). So naturally, that provider abuses its customers and provides shitty, intermittent service. That sucks, but my mom is just taking it way too seriously and getting unnecessarily stressed out about it, which in turn, makes me anxious and sad (stress-sponge that I am) AND I miss Glee. In more than one way.

Regular LJ update:
What I'm watching Obvs not Glee... Also not House anymore. I'll always love Hugh Laurie but I'm so disappointed with the direction the show is taking. As is JMo/Cameron if this brief interview from our friends at EW is any indication.
What I'm eating Lunchables. Seriously. I got super tired of cooking all of the sudden.
What I'm listening to The new tracks from Lady GaGa's Fame Monster album. The woman is queer as a plaid rabbit but her songs are so workout appropriate!

I spent this weekend at my mom's because I had a neurologist appointment near there. I only see the neurologist once a year for checkups for my migraines, so I haven't bothered to find a new one near where I live now. Anyway, over the weekend, my mom came down with some weird bronchial thing (or maybe allergy-induced asthma?) so this morning she called in sick to work, and was able to get in to see her doctor. Right after she got off the phone with her doctor's office, my neurologist called me and asked to postpone my appointment until Wednesday. I told them that I drove all the way down here for the appt, and asked if the Neurologist could see me at all today - so they squeezed me in for later. So now I have like an extra 4 hours on my hands. And I'm stuck with DIAL UP!!

Last night, my dad and I saw The Box which could be subtitled "WTF." It's based on the book, and maybe the book makes more sense than the movie. I think it would have made a good hour-long episode of Twilight Zone but the movie was over-stuffed with unnecessary scenes and "clues" to mysteries the viewer solved long ago. But there were some good points: it succeeded in being creepy.

I also liked the moral of the story: we all face choices to "push the button" or hurt nameless others for our own profit or convenience. For example, I can pay more for an item at one store which pays its workers a living wage or I can save $ and buy the item at Walmart, a store which has faced multiple lawsuits and allegations nationwide for discriminating against women and ethnic minorities and not paying its employees a fair wage. I can "push the button" to get my TV $100 cheaper at the cost of supporting a company that I know is wrong. We're all guilty of "pushing the button;" I can't honestly say that the shirt I get at Target isn't made by underpaid and abused factory girls in Hong Kong (as Dar Williams says "Now where are your stocks, would you do it again? Tell me who made your clothes, was it children or men?")

I find myself suddenly addicted to NCIS. I can't explain this, except that I'm pretty sure it's Heather's fault. She was always watching it and I was always like "this show is so generic" and then there was a Halloween marathon and I couldn't look away! The disconcerting thing is that a. it's always on one channel or another, and b. they play the episodes in no discernible order. So there's no storyline continuity for me. It works though, because all the characters are so generic. So it's like "oh okay generic brunette 1 has been replaced by generic brunette 2 in this episode, and doughy guy is writing books."

Speaking of generic forensics shows, Bones is on my last nerve. I still love it, but I think they've stretched out this B/B thing as far as they can. Also, Emily Deschanel always has fug hair in it.

I've talked about how much I love Etsy.com, the online marketplace for handmade items. There are a lot of really talented sellers on there offering unique and beautiful artwork, jewelry, housewares, etc. Sadly, there are also crazy people selling some pretty cracked-out shit. Regretsy is a blog dedicated to making fun of the latter... here's one entry that made me laugh...

"Commode Ode" at Regretsy.com

When I set out to compile some Halloween background music, I didn't know how difficult it would be to find songs of the season that weren't lyrical and weren't corny as hell. I mean, you can only listen to the Monster Mash and Thriller so many times, and most of the "Halloween" CDs out there are just weird noises and cheesy synthesizers. With some research, however, I think I found some good non-lyrical Halloween/Fall background music. Most of it is classical; some jazz. I thought I'd list a few of my favorites here. Maybe it will save someone a little effort.

( Playlist behind cut )

In my efforts to lure children to my house Halloween night, I have discovered that a. we don't have out-door-electrical outlets in the front of the house; b. Target is greedy and won't put their decorations on sale; and c. Halloween isn't about the trick-or-treaters. It's about that happy feeling I get when I put up decorations, even if I'm the only one who will see them.

You know what's really annoying? Ongoing home construction.

It's pumpkin season! Here is a delicious recipe for reduced-fat Pumpkin Bread I found in Good Housekeeping of all places. I made it this weekend and it's delightfully moist and wonderful with coffee. My version adds a little extra spice and walnuts. I noted that you can use either low-fat yogurt or low-fat sour cream (these keep it moist without adding much fat).

( Healthy Makeover Pumpkin Bread )

Poll #1475103
Open to: All, detailed results viewable to: None, participants: 1

Should I get vaccinated for swine flu?!

Some of you who know me know that I have a circular, 3 inch (or so) scar in the middle of my back that's been there since the 7th grade. I just realized that the area inside the scar has no feeling. I find this extremely disturbing.

Just... thought I'd share.

In less disturbing news, may I recommend Bad Gal mascara in Plum? I know what you're thinking "plum mascara?! That's TOO CRAZY" but it's not. It's just subtly different enough to make your eyes really pop. Especially the brown-eyed among us.

I can't believe Halloween is next weekend! I haven't watched all the movies I intended to. I saved Rear Window and The Birds just for this occasion. And on Halloween night I fully intend to watch 1963's black and white The Haunting. It's my new tradition. Watch The Haunting, eat Halloween candy, and think that maybe...just maybe... Santa and his reindeer a Trick-or-Treater might show up.

I was happy because I thought I could watch The Office tonight, since Bones isn't on. But then I remembered that the reason I don't usually catch The Office is because it's on at the same time as Supernatural. I actually considered going back down to work when I discovered this (but I stopped myself, mostly b/c I don't want to wait for my work computer to boot up). That is the danger of working from home, my friends. There are little to no boundaries.

I'm still happy because I don't have to work tomorrow! I took the day off to relax and also get some things done. Actually, by the time I get everything done, there will be no time for relaxing. But that's better than having no time for relaxing PLUS not getting anything done.

According to the kids over at ohnotheydidnt, Hallmark is rebooting the Rainbrow Brite franchise, but with an "updated" Rainbow Brite. THEY ARE STEALING MY CHILDHOOD AND IT IS NOT COOL.

Before:
Rainbrow Brite rides on her horse Starlight spreading Rainbow seeds and making the world a more lovely, colorful place. Also is a friend to gays everywhere.

After:
Scientists mate Bratz Dolls with Miley Cirus and come up with these vapid, corseted mini-harlots.

I WILL BAN HALLMARK UNTIL THIS GOES AWAY. Not that I shopped there anyway; they're overpriced and way too cutesy for me in a "oh look! a little snowman on skiis who wiggles his butt and sings Let It Snow!" way. Which is the worst way.

This weekend was a lot of fun. On Saturday night, some friends and I went to see Sleepy Hollow the play. Then we decided to rent the Johnny Depp movie and watch that too. I spent Saturday morning baking - one of my favorite activities. Tragically, I couldn't find my pumpkin/ghost cookie cutters. Serendipitously, I found some halloween sprinkles while looking for the lost cookie cutters! I also made fortune cookies, which I thought were so-so. But everyone liked the sugar cookies and we had a lot of other food as well. Sadly, I only managed to eat a couple sugar cookies- I sent some home with everyone else and then Heather took a plate to her parents- and they're gone.

On Sunday, Julie and I did some shopping... I tried on like a million pairs of brown boots but can't find the perfect ones. I think I'll try Aldo. That evening, Julie and I watched "Battle of the Blades" on the Canadian Broadcasting Company channel. This is a Canadian reality-competition show in which real figure skaters pair up with retired hockey players and try to teach them to figure skate. It's like Dancing with Stars but for skating. It's pretty funny to watch and Julie knows some of the skaters. No one got a concussion this week.

Today I brought in my deck-chair cushion. I thought I was procrastinating bringing it in because I was lazy, but today I realized it's because brining in the deck furniture is admitting that summer's over. As much as I love fall, it's hard to say good bye to bare-feet weather and long days. Ah well... here's a picture from the Pure Michigan Flickr, that reminds me why I love fall in Michigan:

"Live free or die. Death is not the worst of evils"
- General John Stark

Life is too short to wake up in the morning with regrets. If you get a chance, take it. If it changes your life, let it. -Harvey Mackay

I have been having some trippy dreams lately. In last night's, I was enrolled in classes at Notre Dame and I thought it was better than Univ of Michigan (Ha! Probably not.) And James T. Kirk/Chris Pine was there and I wanted to be in his classes but they were all acting classes (go figure) so I was like "well maybe I'll change my major..." Then I was riding a horse to Mexico but then I remembered I didn't have a passport so I stopped to get one at a Target store. WTF

I might make an apple pie this weekend. I have a bunch of apples I picked while at my mom's plus a bag from the store. I invited my dad to visit, since he really likes apple pie.

Glee this week was so cute! I think I really like that show, despite the obvious lip-syncing to over-produced vocals. At least they're catchy vocals, which is more than you can say for most shows.

Also, House spoiler alert: I heard that Cameron/Jennifer Morrison is leaving the show! I can't believe how the writers have been destroying that show. First by almost writing out three of the original characters in favor of the shallow, useless new ones, and now they're getting rid of one of the most interesting and sympathetic characters. Well, I should say potentially-interesting, because they never bothered to truly develop Cameron. It's almost like they want House to be episodic and "disease of the week"-focused, rather than character-focused.

I used to always wait until October 1 to decorate for Halloween, but I decided that this year, any time after Sept. 15th (the halfway point of September) would be fine. But Halloween decorating is like sweet potato chips: it leaves you wanting more. It looks nice... but...I want to pick up a few more items that can stay out after Halloween and in to Thanksgiving time. I also haven't put out any outside stuff yet; I'll leave that for another time so as to make the joy last longer. I LOVE FALL DECORATING!
And then when Halloween comes, even though we don't get trick or treaters, I just love knowing it's Halloween. Similar to the feeling I get on Christmas Eve... there is such energy in the air.

In other news, Bones is new tonight! Yay. I'll give them a chance to redeem themselves. I also want to give Dollhouse another chance this year but it's on at the same time as Medium and Monk (which Heather watches) so it may be relegated to Hulu watching. I recently re-watched the whole series of Tru Calling which was Eliza Dushku's 2001 show about a girl who re-lives days in order to save lives of strangers. The first 10 or so episodes were rocky but it got a lot better right before they canceled it. I have the second season but I kind of want to go back and buy the first to watch again.

Another happy Saturday. I went to Bed Bath & Beyond and bought my mom's birthday gift a bit early. I wanted to get her a nice coffee maker since the one she has now- a Cuisinart- looks nice but shuts off mid-brew for no apparent reason. Krups makes good coffee makers and I had a coupon for BB&B so thought I might as well buy it now while I'm thinking about it, even though her birthday isn't until October.

And I also bought a candy thermometer to make popcorn balls! I haven't made them in a few years because it's risky unless you can measure the temperature exactly. But now that I have a candy thermometer, it's ON. Shit just got REAL.

My brother's birthday is tomorrow. I ordered him an electric tea-kettle from Amazon; he received it today. I wanted to get him a fancy one, but it turns out those can run like $100 (for something that HEATS UP WATER WTF) so I got a mid-range one for like $50. He emailed to say he got it and is using it to "dissolve bullion for marsala rice." And to think, I just use mine for tea.

I have a Miley Cyrus song in my head. WTF?! Also, my room is a MESS, my back hurts, & I have a headache. I think I'm going to take a bath and go to bed.
addendum: Apparently by "and go to bed" I meant "watch True Blood on my computer until 2 a.m."