Cast Metal Letter Collection

I can never afford anything from Restoration Hardware but I still torture myself with their catalogs and emails because they're just so darn pretty to look at.

Exhibit A. Doesn't it just make your typography loving heart do back flips? Maybe it's just me.



I was a little disappointed that I had to do a screenshot of the email to show you that particular layout. If you click below to their catalog you just get the individual letters, which are still striking but not backflip inducing.

Cast Metal Letter Collection

If you poke around their Accessories section of the catalog you'll find other lovelies. Most of which are the kinds of things I like scouring flea markets and yard sales for. Considerably cheaper too.

Did anyone else notice they were using coverless books bound in twine as decorative accents? Not sure I love that. If I have coverless books, they end up in the trash unless they are particularly beloved. Never thought of them as decorative.

Anyone else have catalogs they drool over but never buy from?

On the First Day of December I Decorated My Tree

Okay, so that doesn't really work with the meter of the song. Nevertheless, it's true. The kids and I had fun putting the tree up and recalling memories associated with the ornaments.

While we decorated we listened to Nat King Cole, Mannheim Steamroller, Lyndsey Lloyd Wallace, and Take 6. Interesting story behind the Lyndsey Lloyd Wallace CD. She was on the worship team at Saddleback Church and recorded her Christmas album while I was there. I got to sing back up on one of the songs. I was in the local Christian bookstore when I heard the song playing over the speaker system. I kind of stopped in awe for a moment. I always thought that kind of "Hey, that's me" moment in a bookstore would be because of a book, not a CD.

To top it all off, it snowed today. The kids went out and played in the snow then came in and had hot chocolate and watched a movie.



We also began Advent tonight. I know it doesn't really begin until tomorrow but we got this adorable Advent tree made of boxes of chocolate at Starbucks and it starts on the first. Our church tradition doesn't have a lot of rituals, and most of the time I appreciate that. However, we've been in the habit of celebrating Advent with candles, carols, and Scripture readings. I think some rituals can be meaningful and build memories. So tonight we said an Advent prayer for children, discussed John the Baptist's call to repentance and fruit (and what that means), and sang "Come O Come Emmanuel."

Hopefully the traditions and rituals will help us all to remember the real reason for Christmas.