a muse + delight: December 2010

Tuesday

Today's Inspiration

The name of this bed should be "speechless", because that is the reaction it elicits. Solid wood is laser-cut and crafted with dove-tail joints. Modern fairytale woodland bed, indeed. Time is precious, as are resources, so the tag matches the work. At $14,000, maybe we'll call it "the dreamland bed". It's like a dreamcatcher. How could you not dream of stone cottages, apple trees and furry fawn with this bed? I suppose you would have to keep the wolves, bears and ants out of your slumber... Thanks to designer Tiina Attila of Finland for her inspiring work.

Saturday

2010 Holiday Schedule

:: Gift Selection Help ::

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What's the opposite of a careless re-gift thrown in some sad paper? A specially-presented, carefully-selected gift that tells the recipient you put thought into a gift you know they would enjoy.
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If the item comes with optional gift wrapping, just add the option while you're on the product page.

In case you missed the link from our homepage...

Christmas Ordering Deadlines (delivery by 12/24)

*12/19 (Sun) 5:00PM ET: via Standard
*12/20 (Mon) 12:00PM ET: via regular expedited (USPS 2-3 day)
*12/20 - 12/21: We process and ship most orders same-day, so orders placed between these dates via Standard/regular expedited may arrive by 12/24. Contact us about Premium Expedited options.
*NOTE: Please read product page; some items have longer ship-out timeframes. Orders to HI & PR cannot ship via Standard.
*USPS / UPS / FedEx do not guarantee any specific delivery dates for Standard (nor regular Expedited USPS 2-3 day).

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Holiday Closing

12/22 - 12/27, 12/31
Orders placed between these dates start shipping 12/28 & 1/3
Please read product page; some items have longer ship-out timeframes
We will respond to all messages starting 12/28 & 1/3.

Friday

Holiday Trivia

At Calliope, I'm known as a grab bag of "useless information". Random facts, visuals and quotes nest in my brain, at times leaving a "no vacancy" sign for more impressive information. Here are a few cookie crumbs from my trove of random quotes and trivia:

Frommers

Charles Dickens

I have always thought of Christmas time, when it has come round, as a good time; a kind, forgiving, charitable time; the only time I know of, in the long calendar of the year, when men and women seem by one consent to open their shut-up hearts freely, and to think of people below them as if they really were fellow passengers to the grave, and not another race of creatures bound on other journeys.

Norman Vincent Peale
Christmas waves a magic wand over this world, and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful.

Eggnog

The first eggnog made in the U.S. was consumed in Captain John Smith's 1607 Jamestown Settlement.

Speaking Cats and Dogs

According to old wives' tales, at midnight on every Christmas Eve animals are given the power of speech for a brief period.* That brief period will be known as snacktime for our four-legged friend. (Remember the chewy granola bar commercial?)

Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree

Construction workers started the tradition in 1931.

Xmas

Contrary to what many people think, the "X" is not a way to disassociate Christ from Christmas. Its origin is religious in nature. The Greek word that gives us the English word "Christ" started with the letter "chi" or "x". The early Christians who spoke Greek used the word to signify "Christ's Mass". Throughout the centuries, fewer people understood ancient Greek and thought the "X" was pagan-like, and even disrespectful.*

English Customs

Christmas, as an English custom, fell out of favor in the U.S. after the American Revolution.

Frommers

More Christmas Interest

Christmas medley: history, strange customs, light displays, Santa's origin

Traditions around the world
For travelers: CNN's top 10 places to spend Christmas

Displays: Frommer's 10 Holiday Lights Around the World

*Farmer's Almanac

Thursday

Favorite Holiday Flicks

Give treats. Play tricks.

Pumpkin in everything.

Hot cider. Warm hearths.

Nick, Frosty and Charlie.

Bubbly here, bubbly there.

Sprinkle your house with red.

Drink cream. Bake men.

Wrap to your heart's content.

Create. Give thanks.

I and we. Celebrate.

Spring rejuvenates and refreshes. Anticipation seems to sprout lazily on tree limbs and crawl over lawns. Summer infectiously invigorates; light, color and mood are bright. I think, however, that my favorite time of year is the fall to winter bridge. There is more ready opportunity for celebration in October, November and December than there is in all other months combined. More people are in kind, festive moods, enjoying themselves and helping others enjoy themselves as well.

The lines above list a few of my favorite things about this "holiday bridge". I love holiday concerts, ballets and plays, but I also like to watch a Christmas movie here and there to inject a little jolly. In need of an instant holiday pick-me-up? Rent a few of these online or locally and check tv listings here:

1. White Christmas

I love, love, love technicolor movies, especially those featuring Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye. Irving Berlin was b-r-i-l-l-i-a-n-t. Listen to one of his songs and your happy-meter reading does a little jump. The soundtrack from this movie is perfect holiday fare...

White Christmas (duh!), The Best Things Happen When You're Dancing (not a newsflash!), Sisters, Count Your Blessings Instead of Sheep, Snow (snow, snow snow...), What Can You Do With a General, Love You Didn't Do Right By Me. Then there's Bing's Mele Kalikimaka, which I discovered in the last few years (believe it or not).

2. The Holiday

Watch the movie, want the cottage. And Jude's character's house. And a vacation at Cameron's character's house. And Jack's character to write you a theme song. Oh, and Sophie and Olivia, too.

3. A Charlie Brown Christmas

A timeless, childhood classic. Even now, as an adult, I drop everything and run to the tv when Charlie Brown holiday specials are playing.

4. Little Women (1994)

Perfect adaptation of the novel. Terrific cast. Gorgeous scenes.

5. Love Actually

One of the best collection of short stories on-film. Fabulous cast. Alan Rickman is amazing. The soundtrack is great too. You'll be singing along to the movie and the silent types watching with you will have to gag you.

6. Mickey's Christmas Carol

Short but so sweet. Plus, it's Mickey, the all-time king of cartoons.

7. The Santa Clause

Tim Allen is just fantastic in this movie. I love the north pole, Judy the Elf ("Thanks, but I'm seeing someone in wrapping.", "Seeing isn't believing. Believing is seeing."), and Charlie with the super pinch-able cheeks.

8-9. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer & Santa Clause is Coming to Town
The misfits. Need I say more? High-tech animation can't touch this.

10. Samantha: An American Girl Holiday

An old-fashioned story. I never owned an American Girl doll, but I loved them. Although I was part tomboy, I also loved history and Victoriana, in which the scenes are pretty rich.

11. A Christmas Carol (1951)

I like black and white movies and that isn't the reason I prefer this version...

12. Home Alone 1

Macaulay was hilarious. I think every kid has shared at least one of Kevin's thoughts at one time.

13. Miracle on 34th Street (1947)

Natalie Wood was a huge talent at such a young age. She played a great vulnerable little skeptic.

14. Frosty the Snowman

Can you remember the lyrics? For some reason, they just don't stick with me. Frosty the snowman was a jolly, happy soul, with a... and I resort to humming.