1) Oh tannenboing, oh tannenboing, how lovely is your spiral. You like it, you really like it. David E says: “We have one hanging in our office, and it’s absolutely incredible! It creates a buzz–everyone comments on it or asks about it. Most everybody likes it. The staff love it, and it looks stunning in our front office. We have a glass wall and the staff loves watching people walk by gawking at the Tannenboing! Our best purchase without a doubt!” See it here.

2) Sometimes living in New York sounds so cool. Erin @ SYL: Slipcover Your Life says: “Seeing that I live in NYC and we’re all confined to our 4×4 foot block (ok, I exagerate on the smallness but sometimes it feels like that), I do not decorate outside. I am fortunate enough that most of the buildings in the area do decorate their lobbies AND I get to walk through the Christmas Tree Stands that line broadway!” That sounds like a fair trade-off to us! Do you decorate outside?

3) Linnea’s Lights candles: Angela-tested, husband-approved. It’s not just the ladies who enjoy the scented candles. Angela’s husband Chad says:
“This candle smells great!” See it here.

4) So that’s why we like the Raimond Suspension Light by Moooi. Fonda LaShay says: “this is beautiful! looks like a new years drop ball!” You can win it from Y Lighting.

5) That IKEA stainless rack is good for more than one hack. Megan B. is using hers as a coat rack. Meanwhile, Simone Rene Says: “I used it for the same thing! except I hang my belts from it..lol..” What will you use it for?

Photo by Linda DuBose

Prudent advice for a baby daughter that you will probably like, too.

Small, cheap, and useful: exactly what you want in a gift guide, at Tea & Cookies.

Love for really, really old Tupperware (it’s from a year ago, but a friend sent us here) at 1000 Awesome Things.

How far does your produce travel? Transparency will tell you.

Could you live in 175 square feet? How about with another person? This couple in New York is loving it (we still think they need some art on the walls) at the New York Post.

Casa Sugar has the dos and don’ts of caring for silver — handy this time of year.

“Gingerbread” cookies for those who don’t like them (they’re really sugar cookies, and they’re “pre-bitten”) at Baking Bites.

We have a thing for tabletop Christmas trees, and here’s a great one at beachbungalow8.

Finally boatshedchic makes Madeleines. We’ll be happy to sample a few!

Not sure what to read next? Why not check out The Book Seer (via) for a recommendation? No, it’s not some well-read guy sitting at his computer waiting to share his opinion; it’s a website that allows you to plug in the last good book you read. You’ll instantly get recommendations from sources like Amazon, Book Army, and LibraryThing. See The Book Seer. — Erica P.

This is not your grandma’s aluminum Christmas tree (which we love, by the way)! The tannenboing is constructed from recycled aluminum, pre-drilled to hold 200 of your favorite ornaments. Its ultra-modern, one-piece spring design comes flat packed and ready to be suspended from the ceiling and decorated to your heart’s content. Sleek lines and small visual imprint make the “tree” perfect for small spaces. The one caveat I see is the cost: a wee bit steep at $795, but more traditional “fake” trees can run that much. While it may be way too modern for my home, I think it’s really clever and cool. What do you think: Are you sprung off the tannenboing, or does it just fall flat? — Megan B.

The random number generator has spoken! Congratulations to the winners of the Crypton Fabrics giveway: you’ve each won a Gipsy Doodle Dog Apron in pink, designed by William Wegman.

Melissa, who says: “I LOVE the dog harness vests! I have two small dogs, and they need harnesses instead of collars when we go on walks (delicate necks don’t do well with pulling collars!) These look terrific!”

Sarah, who says: “I like the Wiltshire Pillows. Very sophisticated.”

Katie, who likes, “hands down, the Throvers. Fantastic.”

Wendy, who agrees, saying: “Crypton Throvers are my favorite products from the website.”

And Ellie, who shares the Throvers love, saying: “I’d want a Throver to protect my car from my own doodle dog. And their designer totes would make a great gift for any new moms this year.”

Congrats to our winners (we’ll be in touch) and thanks again to Crypton Fabrics for the giveaway!

On my street, Thanksgiving night marks open season for holiday décor. No sooner has the remaining turkey been placed in the Tupperware than the holiday lights start to switch on. Our friends to the right use the nets of lights, while we go for the traditional strings and the neighbors across the way fancy a single string of the big, retro colored bulbs. Soon, a light-up deer ends its winter migration on the lawn of our neighbors to the left, and the holidays have arrived. Clearly, decorating outdoors is the name of the game on our street, but other streets ring in the holidays in the dark, so tell me: Do you decorate outdoors? — Sarah C.

Photo by Flickr user jspad

I don’t have much space for a bar in my apartment, so I went with this tray setup. Then I saw this awesome hanging bar and began to dream of a bar makeover. Just today I spotted the Coco Mini Bar and I’m officially in full-on jealousy mode. Leonhard Pfeifer brings us great design (and an even better tagline—”a mini bar so delicious you’ll want to have it home for a drink”) with his Mini.BarBoudoir series. I’m particularly smitten with the Coco Mini Bar design which uses classic Chanel nail varnish as the hand-painted finishing touch. According to Design Milk, the colors Pfeifer uses are Chanel No. 159 Fire Red, the classic movie star shade, and No. 18 Rouge Noir (worn by Uma Thurman in Pulp Fiction). The bar is part of a collection of eight limited edition pieces. — Erica P.

Photo via Design Milk

Last year we posted a list of holiday shows where you can support handmade and local while buying up some fabulous gifts for friends and family. This year, I’m going to let Craftzine.com do the work for us! Head over to Craftzine.com’s events calendar and you can see what’s coming up this week and next and, in fact, every week in crafting events throughout the year. As for me, I was at Seattle’s Urban Craft Uprising this past weekend (you might be able to spot me in the photo above) and chances are good that I’m heading to Portland’s Crafty Wonderland this weekend. My favorite thing I purchased at UCU was a sustainable pendant by Dinah Coops, who also carries some gorgeous linens and table mats in her shop. What about you — any indie goodness that you’ve picked up lately that you’d love to share? –Mary T.

Quicklink: Craftzine.com’s events calendar of indie holiday craft fairs

You have until 5 p.m. EST today to enter the contest — get all the details here!

I’ve got a few VIVs (very important vegans) in my life, so this time of year I’m always doing a little vegan something-or-other in addition to my usual holiday baking. But these are so moist, fudgy, and insanely delicious, anyone would flip for them, so I may just give everyone on my list some for Christmas! — Megan B. Click for the recipe. (more…)