We realized in all of this new house hubbub we never shared what we gifted each other for Christmas. Fishsticks! (No, we didn’t give each other fishsticks, I’m just practicing our resolution to not curse around the baby anymore).
Sherry wins the “best gift” award this year. In continuing her efforts to grow our art collection, she considered a couple of Richmond-themed pieces (including this one that we’ve always liked) and finally ended up getting me this awesome Richmond Type Map:
It’s a colorful map of our fair city made up entirely of identifying text. See what I mean?
The black grid is made up of street names and the colored area behind them are the neighborhoods. So if you’re equal parts Richmond enthusiast, map connoisseur, and typography lover (like me) it’s basically the gift trifecta. Oh, and some of the proceeds of each map go to a local kids art charity called Art180. We haven’t picked out the perfect spot for it in the house yet, so for now it’s joining the pile of frames in the family room that are sitting around waiting to be hung.
I was a close second (aka last place) for the “best gift” distinction this year. Given Sherry’s growing love of tea-drinking I finally got her a proper tea kettle (no more microwaving) and two new mugs. The kettle is the Chantal Loop in cobalt blue (which seems to be our color of the moment given that it’s actually pretty similar to the backs of our built-ins). And the “Tunnel Vision” mugs are from an NYC-based dishware shop called Fishs Eddy. I figured it was a nice nod to the city where we met (NY) and the state where Sherry was born and raised (Jersey, baby).
Of course gift giving isn’t really a competition. But if it were, there is one area in which we’d tie. When my sister drew Sherry’s name in our “Petersik Sibling Gift Exchange” (which keeps the adults in our family from going present-crazy because we each just have one person to shop for) I suggested that she get Sherry a new Three Designing Women stamper with our new address on it (we both loved saving our hand and using our old one to mail out things like thank yous and holiday cards). Sherry apparently had the same thought and ordered one for me too, which I opened about ten seconds after she opened hers.
Since they’re customized gifts we can’t exactly return one, but at least we chose two different designs (my sister ordered the design on top, Sherry ordered the one on the bottom). So for now we’ve decided to just enjoy being able to mix things up when it comes to stamping our return address on stuff. And Sherry actually loves the one on top more than the one she chose, so she’s happy about the whole overlapping gift snafu.
So that’s how we Santa’d each other this year (well, with a little help from my sister). What about you guys? We’d love to hear what you guys scored – especially if it’s home related. Any ceramic animals?
Update: You can check out all of our favorite holiday decor finds here – many of which are under $15!
Jes says
I did get a ceramic animal! The white Jonathan Adler fox that I have been lusting after for months. I love my hubby!!
Lindsey says
I love Art Sharks on ETSY! I have one of her DC ones (as I live up here) – the red umbrellas are adorable!
Very cool gifts!
Tovah says
I got some awesome house presents including a welcome mat with our last name letter, and several items to complete my “rustic/old west” bedroom including awesome throw pillows with cowboys and bedside lamps made out of old lanterns. My dad did an awesome job converting them to electric with energy efficient light bulbs! I love showing them off–you can see them in this post: http://clarkandtovah.com/?p=1313
A says
That is an adorable video of Clara! I love those stamps. Thanks for a reminder to order a new one.
We bought each other a house! Closed a few days before Christmas so we didn’t exchange gifts, just keys to this: http://directionsnotincluded.blogspot.com/ :)
Sara says
AAHH!! So excited to see Fishs Eddy. I went in that store in NYC a few years ago and Loved just about everything! Was so bummed out I didn’t buy something for myself and could not remember the name to save my life. Off to surf their site!
Calypso In The Country says
House related- my husband got me a box with a tile in it to represent re-doing the guest bathroom and laundry room floors! Yay! (Sorry if this is a duplicate, I thought I submitted the comment but it disappeared!)
Emily@Decorchick says
That video is too precious! No ceramics, but I did get an upgrade to a macbook pro which was a great gift. And a cordless little sweeper vacuum to keep in the kitchen so I can clean up messes quicker. You know, since it’s difficult to bring out the real vacuum? And I don’t use a broom. :)
Jen says
I’ve done duplicate gifts too many times to count, just means great minds think alike!
Kristina says
Oh my goodness, I absolutely love the Richmond Love gocco art print!! I just ordered the Los Angeles one for myself (it’s of Griffith Observatory, which is where my hubby and I had our engagement pictures taken). Thanks for the link!
Also, one of my bridesmaids got us a Three Designing Women stamper as a wedding present…it’s such a fabulous wedding or housewarming present. Highly recommended!
Megan says
What neat gifts! Clara is adorable and I love her laugh!
Holly says
I seriously just spent like 1:30 hours watching your videos! I was just giggling away and finally my husband came in and started watching with me!
Next thing I know it is almost 4:30! Where did the passed couple of hours go? heh
So thank you for that! I love this video of Clara!! I was pretty excited about the disappearing tube myself!
Carol N. says
Those gifts are really neat! I went the easy route and finally got one of those water pots to plug in so I don’t have to heat up the stove for my nightly tea binge. And this year we gifted each other with a new 50″ HDTV to replace our 300 pound oldster one. And we craigslisted the old tv and entertainment unit so actually got a little money to put towards our new splurge. Gotta love craigslist!
Heather says
I took some advice from your blog and comissioned a portrait of our dog, Diesel, from Casey Childs and his limited sketch project. My husband LOVED it! And since I’m a coffee freak, my husband got me a Mini Keurig coffee maker. I adore it since I don’t have to fuss with our over-the-hill coffee maker we inherited from my parents.
Monica F says
My favorite gift was from my fiance… two – 1 hour massage gift certificates.
I also really like the gift my mom bought me. It is a blooming tea set that has over 250 brews. I love fresh flowers and tea so this was really a good combination of the two. If you are not familiar with the concept here is a picture of the bloomed tea in the pot and the tea pods besides them:
http://bolt.teakungfu.hu/images/teaviragok.jpg
I also got a microwave, copper bottom pot/skillet set, and lots of other kitchen goodies.
Kathleen says
Oh my goodness, thank you for sharing that adorable video of Clara. There’s nothing better than baby laughs. Now my 18 mo old is asking for “more baby!”
Barb says
Before I begin…I have to say I LOVE your blogs and look forward to them on a daily basis. Plus, could your baby be any cuter???!!!
My husband and I gifted each other a WASTE KING hot water dispenser for the kitchen sink. This is the 4th one we have installed in less than 10 years. We did lots of research on this one and found it was not the most expensive (I am tired of spending hundreds and having it break in a few years) and it by far had the best ratings. IT IS PERFECT for us tea drinkers. You should invest in one for Sherry.
Love all the projects, pictures and stories you both tell. You have a gift with this blog…so great for all of us!! We love it, we appreciate you both. From one Richmond-er to another. Both of our kids born at Chippenham Hospital!!!
Thanks for keeping us posted on your great House(s).
Barb
Lindsay says
love the blog! huge fan. I stumbled across your site a few months ago when i was looking for ideas on DIY art work/wall art. now i stop by at least once a day. also, clara is beautiful & soo funny – i love the video you posted today.
I was also born and raised in NJ. Woodbridge area. Sherry, What part are you from??
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Lindsay,
I’m from Paraippany in Morris County. Par Hills, baby!
xo,
s
Molly says
If you love typographic maps check out orkposters.com.
I have both the Los angeles and San francisco ones in my house and people love them as gifts!
brandt @ NewHouseOnTheBlog says
I am very jealous of that typography map. If you have one of Richmond, how do we not have one of Detroit?!?!?!!?
not saying that my city is better than yours…we just have a little bit of a crime problem! ;-)
Laura says
We received the stamp on the bottom as a wedding gift and I LOVE using it! It was super-handy when writing thank you notes for wedding gifts and Christmas. My mother-in-law actually had people call her after they received my card to ask where I got the stamp!
Mary @ stylefyles says
that video is ridiculously cute! Love Clara’s face at the end of the video!!!
Pamela says
Love that map! How clever! I received an awesome radio/record/cd/cassette player that just looks beautiful in our living/dining room, plus a basement storage cabinet (hooray organization!), and we got a sander (hooray for revitalizing old furnishings!). We just bought a fixer-upper mid-century house shortly before you, and I am enjoying following your “making it home” process as we do the same. Good luck and thanks for sharing!
Ally says
What fun gifts! And so personal. That’s what really matters, ya know? I got my husband a lithiograph of our boxer, which we both think is pretty cool. Yes, we are crazy dog people.
Elise says
I completely and totally LOVE the typographic map. Could there be a better piece of wall art? I am off to hunt one down (either for my new city – Chicago! – or one of my old ones) just as soon as I click “submit”!
Heather Jo says
I really really love the map! I’ve been wanting the same sort of art for my husband and I. i want a Philadelphia map (that’s where we live and where I’m from) and also a map of Coimbra, Portugal (where my husband is from). The problem is where do I find artful ones like the one you found? Sigh.
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Heather Jo,
Maybe an artist on Etsy offers personalized art or maps? That would be cool because you could get a special one designed. Good luck!
xo,
s
Lauren says
I also ordered the Richmond Typography map (after I saw you mention it on your twitter!). I love it! I should confess though I’ve been hoping you would do a mini-post of some kind to show how you plan to display/frame/what have you with it…
I couldn’t stand seeing it in the tube any longer, so in a recent trip to IKEA I bought a Ribba frame, cut the matte included more to size to accomdate the unusual sizing of the map and framed it that way. Looks good, but I know you all would probably have come up with something more creative which brings me to my question…any creative tips on ways to display beyond the old standby Ribba frame?
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Lauren,
The funny thing is that we’re planning to put it in an ikea frame (somehow retrofitting it like you did). We’ll post the details when we tackle it!
xo,
s
Emily says
Mostly kitchen stuff, the big two being a Fagor pressure cooker and a wall-mounting pot rack. My kitchen is about to be so organized (as soon as we’re finished painting it)!
And, by the way, I just bought the Premium XL tight spots short-handled paintbrush you guys recommend and am using it to cut in around the trim right now!
Hanna says
I got a thoroughly technological Christmas… Office 2010, video editing software, a video camera, and an iPod shuffle.
I also got money which I used to buy myself some not so techie presents — seat covers from cabela’s for my car and some ‘fatbaby’ cowboy boots (ordered sight unseen from the internets! *nervous*)
My husband was apparently putting off vibes because three seperate people got him RC helicopters of various sizes for Christmas. O.O Our cat has already stalked and killed one.
Jenn L @ Peas and Crayons says
These are really great! I LOVE personal gifts that end up being totally gorgeous/presentable in the process! =)
The typography map is just stunning!
ALittleBite says
Here in Spain we actually call the gift exchange “Invisible friend” since you’re not supposed to know who’s giving you the gift! We usually do that between friends and did it this year with the family for the first time, which was nice too.
Heather says
That tea kettle is on my wish list too. The cobalt blue is so pretty. The fiance and I are decorating our kitchen around my Cobalt KitchenAid Stand Mixer =)
Lisa says
A quiet Christmas this year although we did spend some time in Sweden’s glass area a few weeks before Christmas and ended up bringing home plenty of gorgeous things from Kosta Boda, Orrefors and our been-longing-for-forever Sagaform wine decanters.
CTDC says
Your blog brings a smile to my face at least once a day, but that video took it sheer joy! Thanks for sharing.
And I’ve really enjoyed these recent posts since I’m a renter and about to be a first time buyer, and these early/smaller changes are actually more what I am interested in right now.
Minnesotamom says
We decided to forgo gifts and give the money we would’ve spent to charity this year.
On another note, that video made me LAUGH. Loved it! Babies are super. duper. fun. My own boy turns 1 next week–it goes by so quickly!
On yet another note, thanks for the link to the washer/dryer! My hubby and I were in the market, and between the 33% off and the 10% moving coupon we had, we were able to get them both delivered and installed for $786. You guys rock!
Caitlin C says
Love your gifts to each other. My husband and I have a boston map from Orkposters.com. (http://www.orkposters.com/boston.html) We recently moved too so our christmas presents to each other were house-based too. I got a sewing machine (have wanted one forever to DIY fabulous house hold goodies) and I gave my hubbie a fire pit from Home Depot for outside….now if it can only warm up here in New England to use it!
Elle C. says
My husband should get a gold medal for the gift he bought me (if gifting WERE a competition, that is). I had been crying (yes, I’m a big baby) because I REALLY wanted to buy my first SLR camera to take pics of our house for my blog (and maybe a few pics of the kiddos too). My hubby really had me going: He suggested I get a part-time job and save for it, or sell some stuff on Craig’s List, because “we just can’t afford it right now”.
But on Christmas Eve, we were opening our new tradition of “pajama gifts”. Except my “pajamas” were actually a new Canon T1i camera! He’d found the only one left on Overstock.com for HALF PRICE and he was able to redeem our Discover card points to pay for the rest! I was stunned, and didn’t know whether to be ecstatic or pissed off that he’d let me cry, apply for a job, and start going through items for a yard sale. I decided to be ecstatic.
Phillip says
procured that same map for our new office. and bought a two to be given next time a richmond gift seems appropriate.
but, there is a costo in richmond, two actually, one in the west end and one in deep chesterfield.
YoungHouseLove says
Learn something new every day. Thanks for the info Phillip!
xo,
s
r8chel says
I got 24 chairs for Christmas. :)
It’s actually a game sort of like Jenga — called Chairs — where you have to take turns stacking up these little plastic chairs while trying not to make them fall.
http://r8chel.wordpress.com/2011/01/06/chairs/
JenWoodhouse.com says
The sound of Clara laughing is so cute! Evie turned 3 months old a couple days ago and has just started laughing. It’s the most miraculous sound I’ve ever heard.
<3
Happy New Year, Youngsters!
YoungHouseLove says
Aw, tell Evie that Clara says hi and giggles in her general direction. So glad you’re getting those awesome baby laughs!
xo,
s
andrea p says
That type map is sooo neat! Must have taken a long time to make! Do you know if there are other cities available??
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Andrea P,
Not by the people who made this map, but google Ork Posters for something similar for multiple cities!
xo,
s
Suzi D. says
My husband gave me a set of canvases, because he knows I’ve really been wanting to paint something. I actually wanted to ask you, what kind of paint would be best? Will acrylic craft paint work? I also have some oil paints that I thought would be good to add some texture; can I use them together? Thanks for your help – I’m so excited to paint!
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Suzi,
Lots of artists mix media but I always stuck to one type of paint per canvas (so I’d do one in all acrylic and one in all oil). You can have fun and mix things up if you’d like though!
xo,
s
andrea p says
Wow thanks for the info and the speedy response Sherry!! :)
krys72599 says
While I didn’t “score” any white ceramic animals, I did take my first visit to our local Goodwill store, which I’ve wanted to do ever since your post and Katie’s post over at BowerPower. And what did I get over there, for the mere price of $1 and 99 measly cents??? A white ceramic dish, about 10″ long, in the shape of my initial “K.”
I put it on my desk and it hold whatever small tchotchke wind up loose on my desk: paperclips, staples, embellishments from my scrapbooking projects, little bits of bling, whatever… LOVE it!
Reva says
Those are great gifts! OK this might sound grumpier than I intend it, but why are so many people saying “gifting” now rather than “giving?”
YoungHouseLove says
Hmm, I don’t know. We probably all hear that term from Real Simple or HGTV and start using it. Haha.
xo,
s
windylou says
Neat-o in the return address stamps area! I wish I had thought of that when we bought our house.
My husband bought me the most awesome art print for Christmas – not sure it’s your style, but I’ve got to give props to the artist because her stuff is so cool to me:
http://www.noirnouar.com/
This is the one I have in my kitchen:
http://noirnouar.bigcartel.com/product/happy-fatty
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, the quirky name (Happy Fatty) is cracking us up!
xo,
s
Jen T. says
Great mugs! Ironically, I just passed the town (which the company was named after) on the way to my in-laws this past Christmas. It’s a litte hamlet in upstate New york.
Hilary @ My So-Called Home says
We gave each other the gift of a new computer- a refurbished 27″ iMac. It is 100% perfect and no one would ever know it isn’t brand spanking new! We just love it and didn’t even care that there would be no individual “gifting” going on this year.
Courtney says
Yes to ceramic animals! Hubby got me the white ceramic elephant planter from ZGallerie along with the pretty votives from Crate and Barrel you included in your gift post.
Joanna says
Love the video! My husband, son, and I all got a good laugh. She’s adorable!
Suzannah says
What a great idea for Christmas gifts! I’m going to look at those return address stamps. – I love the video of Clara by the way. We have a little girl, Emmeline, who was born on May 24. Clara was a name we favored heavily because it was my Grandmother’s name. I love it!