As usual, I find myself drooling over many of Anthropolgie’s holiday-wares. There are an insane amount of gift-and-get worthy table top items. But these Trinket & Treasure candles gave me pause. A delicate tower of found objects, including thimbles and salt-n-pepper shakers, they would add whimsy to any dining experience. But the price, just shy of $400 puts them out of the realm of reality. No doubt they are hand-crafted with care, and no two pieces are alike. But couldn’t someone with a good eye craft together something similar with flea market finds? The repeated tin knobs help hold it together. What kind of glue do you think you’d need? Lets try it! Send me your suggestions and I’ll add it to my to-do list! — Angela M.

I’m not sure why I want it. I have no idea how much it will cost (unannounced). I don’t even know when it will be available (the site only says sometime next year, in beta). Still, I can’t help thinking how much fun it would be to print Onion headlines from my iPhone. Or 1,000 other equally silly but meaningful things. You, too, can get hooked on the little printer. Watch the video, then add your name to the mailing list for launch details — Sarah L.

Thanks so much for all your encouraging comments from the first post in The Puppy Files (Are We Ready?). It is amazingly exciting to be getting ready for our new family member. I know this is going to cause some controversy — and disappoint some of you — so let me get it out of the way. After a great deal of deliberation and debate, we have decided to get our puppy from a breeder, not a shelter. I know a great many friends who have found awesome pets through shelters, and I have personally supported many through the years. But knowing that we were looking for a “forever” pet and that we had a toddler in the house lead us towards this decision.

First, we did a ton of research on dog breeds that are recommended for families. A few good resources I found were: Martha Stewart’s Dog Breeds: Good With Children and WebMd’s Choosing The Best Dog Breed For Your Family.

Secondly, we came up with a wish list of traits.
1. Smallish. Or rather, bigger than a cat but smaller than our daughter (who currently about 35 lbs).
2. Non-shedding. I have been known to sneeze a bit too much after hugging furry animal, and admittedly, we don’t vacuum as much as we should.
3. Smart, social and hopefully, easy going. We have lots of little people around our house, all the time. Shy won’t work.
4. Under 6 months old. Like humans, much of a dog’s personality is determined by his early development. Plus, the whole puppy experience is one we don’t want to miss out on.

After some exhaustive research (including stopping nearly every dog walker we saw in our neighborhood and drilling them about their dog’s origins), we decided on a Labradoodle (an Australian Labradoodle mini, to be exact). A “designer” mixed breed that is not recognized by the American Kennel Club, Labradoodles were originally bred in the ‘80s in Australia to create service dogs for people with allergies. Their ancestors were poodles and Labradors, but now they are their own sophisticated breed, complete with traits, enthusiasts and breed snobs. (You may recall that Obamas were considering a Labradoodle before deciding on Bo, a Portuguese Water Dog.) They also kinda look like Benji, the dog of my childhood dreams. (I know Benji was probably a terrier mix.. but I digress.)

Once we narrowed our sights on the type of dog we wanted, we started searching local shelters to see if similar ones ever came up. We scoured Petfinder. In our area (Southern New Jersey), puppies in shelters are rather rare –they go fast. Most of the dogs we saw were larger dogs (Labs, rottweilers, and pit bulls are the most common — all which could be awesome pets, but are not right for our home and small child).

Then, I thought I hit gold when I found a shelter in our area that specializes in placing homeless Labradoodles. Perhaps having a puppy didn’t matter so much after all and they could help us find a dog in a need of a home? After digging around on their site I discovered a showstopper: Unfortunately, the shelter doesn’t place dogs into homes with children under five years old. It’s understandable – having a young tot and a dog that may have special needs is not something many families can undertake. We were back to square one. Time to start researching breeders. — Angela M.

Do you have a dog breed you have a soft spot for? I’d love to hear about it!

Previously on the Puppy Files
After Losing Our Dear Cat, We Ask: Time For a Puppy?
Coming up next: What To Look For From A Dog Breeder

Occasionally I am lucky enough to spend the day working from home. I hole up in an upstairs office and power through a ton of things on my to-do list that I can’t do in the “regular” office due to meetings, interruptions and such. But how much more fun would working from home be if we had an Archipod in our back yard! Like a futuristic cottage, these round stand-alone huts are both cozy and space age. The dome shape allows natural light to flood in, making the tiny interior seem bigger than it is. Apparently it arrives in parts that be carried through your house into the back garden — so even city dwellers with row-houses could indulge. Circular desk included! Click here for more info and to see plans. — Angela M.

My oldest was born right before Thanksgiving. Perhaps that’s why my husband, ever the type to think ahead, didn’t point out the obvious when I sent him out to get a narrower Christmas tree that was pre-lit while I stayed home with an infant. All was good the first year, the second, even up to the fourth year. Then strands started going out, one by one. At first we were able to replace a bulb here and there but by last year, we were out of replacement bulbs. So we took a bulb out of the tree and went to three different stores, trying to match the size. No such luck. We borrowed and tried a friend’s As Seen On TV light strand fixer. No luck. So with two eager kids wondering where their tree was, we went out one last time and got a strand and put it over the dead one. Not pretty, but it worked.

This year, I was determined to find a solution. Surely someone out there in bloggy land had one, right? Wrong. I came across only three suggestions that made sense. 1. Buy a new tree, sans lights. 2. Cut all the lights off the tree and restring. 3. Douse the tree in lighter fluid and have a bonfire. The first choice seemed like a waste and as it turns out, finding a tree without lights is harder than it sounds. The third seemed a bit extreme (not to mention the fumes issue) so I gathered up tin snips and wire cutters and got to work. After about an hour and one tall kitchen garbage bag full of cut wires later, the third idea was sounding better. I stuck it out though, and in just under three hours, had a lightless Christmas tree.

For anyone wanting to try it at home, cut, cut cut. I thought at first that snipping and unwinding the wire as I went would be the best way to go. The tree, however, had other ideas. Since the tip of each branch has a looped wire over it, it’s quicker to just cut as many places as you can see, starting on either side of the bulb. Give the tree section a shake and a lot the pieces will fall off. Then start pulling off the wires that remain. It’s not painless, but it’s better than sending a perfectly usable tree to a landfill.

Got a pre-lit tree nightmare to share? Let’s hear it! — Sarah L.

My Mom’s green tomato mincemeat pie ruined me for any other kind, even if she omits the meat from the mince. It’s been years since I’ve canned my own (also meatless) so this fall, my only option was pre-made. The Borden None-Such you can find at your grocery store is a decent substitute if you don’t have a mound of green tomatoes and time on your hands, but is way too sweet for my taste. The solution? Extra fruit!

To make an apple and mincemeat pie, you’ll need two pie crusts, a 27-ounce jar of prepared mincemeat and three pie apples. Press your pie dough into a your pan, leaving the edges un-crimped. Slice three large, tart pie apples (I used Granny Smith) and layer in the bottom of your pan. Don’t add sugar or spices — the liquid and flavor from the mincemeat filling will permeate the apples. Spoon a 27-ounce jar of prepared mincemeat over the top. You’ll want the pie to look like a mound — the apples will melt down and you’ll have a sunken pie if you don’t. Finish the top with your second pie crust, cut into lattice strips, and pop into a pre-heated, 450 degree oven. After 15 minutes, reduce cooking temperature to 350 degrees and cook another 30-35 minutes. The top should be golden and the edges bubbling. Once cooled, you’ve got the perfect holiday mix of savory, spice and sweet. — Sarah L.