Gift Idea: The Dew!

First of all, nothing can happen until you watch this. via



I DIE. Ignore the hideo Curlz at the end. Focus on the adorbs.

My next gift idea is for the pet lovers! Okay, focus on the cat lovers, but maybe some of you dog lovers can help me with a similar suggestion. Last year I read the book Dewey: The Small-Town Library Cat Who Touched the World and enjoyed every sweet, interesting, endearing, bittersweet page. I shared it with my mom and she felt the same. Now the book is in paperback and under $8 and worth every penny. Dewey is a fantastic book and definitely on Pia's Favorite Things.

Now he's all dressed up for Christmas and a perfect gift for the cat lover in your life. (If you don't have a cat lover in your life, let's work on that.)

Any suggestions for dog lover books?
Pia The Pig

Easiest Gift Idea For Strangers: Pay It Forward

There are two really simple and inexpensive ways to brighten someone's holiday spirits that I thought I'd share for today's gift idea. The first one was brought to my attention after my dear friend Melissa wrote on Facebook a few months ago how her whole day turned around (after a teary one minutes earlier) when the kind person in front of her in the Starbucks drive-thru paid her tab. Such a simple easy way to brighten someone's day. You don't even have to leave the car. I must say I did this a few months ago (if you have limits to your generosity, you can always ask what the person ahead's tab is or simply count heads in the car and hope they aren't the office intern) and it felt more energizing than my latte. It's the little things.

Another little idea that I got from my mom which I love to "give" year-round is super easy and costs you nothing. If you are like me, you get a ton of coupons from stores in the mail or in emails. For example, today at Borders I brought in my 33% off one item coupon. Well I printed out three of them and only needed one. The two people in front of me didn't have coupons in their hand so I handed each of them one and saved them some money. They were so appreciative. One woman was thankful because her printer was broken. So, it's a super easy way to make someone's day. It's fun to give these out in stores with escalators because then it's a little race to hand it to the person, say "I have an extra coupon. Enjoy!" and then look back lovingly in hopes they find you generous and not creepy. And possibly attractive. It's a win/win.

A little goes a long way!
Pia The Pig

Happy Hanukkah!

Well this is fabulous! Happy Hanukkah, Readers!



Hope you gelt what you want!
Pia The Pig

Let's Make This A December To Remember

"Blessed is the season which engages the whole world in a conspiracy of love." - Hamilton Wright Mabie

Happy December, my friends! I'll be kicking off the An Awesome A Day Gift Guide with one of my favorite things this year, if not my absolute favorite thing I have purchased in the past few months: my Keurig Home Brewing System.

I was intriuged by these for months, and then AAAD Reader Meghan kept raving about hers, so when I found one on clearance at Office Depot for $50!! (and an additional $10 off coupon), I snagged it up with great enthusiasm. It came with a 20 K-cup sampler and then the coffeegasm began. Delicious gourmet coffee in a matter of minutes. A million kinds. Coffee. Tea. Hot Cocoa. Delightful. This is a fantastic gift and the recipient will no doubt think of you every morning (and noon and night if you're me in December drinking coffee like water. Oh wait, I rarely drink water.) as they pass Starbucks and laugh at the people running late for work and overpaying (I am also that person.) Anyway, it's an awesome gift and kicking off this month's group of ideas.

My personal favorites are the Pumpkin Spice (available at Bed Bath + Beyond along with a dillion other varieties) and the Caramel Vanilla Creme (exclusively at Kohl's) but there are so many others to try.

Happy Holidays! And remember, think before you buy!
Pia The Pig

Awesomely Truthful

This cracks me up.



Stay tuned for Day 1 of the An Awesome Month Of Gifts!

Pia The Pig

Awesome Christmas Flash Mob

This is probably the best flash mob I have seen yet. I would love to be surprised by one of these one day, and also by the cutie patootie in the grey sweatshirt. HALLELUJAH! Truly glorious!



Enjoy,
Pia The Pig

Two Awesome Photos From Someone Else's Facebook

From Julia's Facebook: Worlds most realistic ornament or Rosie breaking Christmas...?


and from Melissa's Facebook: probably the most adorable "I'm pregnant" posts I've seen yet.


Happy Day!
Pia The Pig

But Wait, There's More!

This Super Mensch t-shirt

and the Grover Shalom t-shirt are on sale today at the Sesame Street store.


Amazing!
Pia The Pig

In Case You Missed It

It's time to vote for Cookie Monster to host Saturday Night Live! I would LOVE for this to happen! Watch his audition tape below, then "like" this brilliant idea over on Facebook. Come on, all the four and forty year-olds are doing it.



Me Love Cookie!
Pia The Pig

Girl Talk: Mashup Breakdown

If you aren't familiar with Girl Talk, it's time to get your ears ready to party. Girl Talk is the ultimate mashup DJ champ and I listen to the hell out of his amazing creations. Last year, Kristie and I went to his concert and it was an extravaganza of music, dancing, confetti, glowsticks and crazy fun. GT's new album was recently released and offered for free and it certainly does not disappoint! AAAD Reader Lynn shared this awesome site, Mashup Breakdown, that shows all of the songs sampled in the album, where and when. Super awesome.

I'm heading to the next Girl Talk show in January and CANNOT WAIT to party down. Who's joinin' me?

PS-I totally have this t-shirt and it's awesome.
Pia The Pig

Think Outside The Big Box

This is one of my favorite times of the year for so many reasons, one of which is the opportunity to get create with gift-giving! Some of my friends tease me for buying gifts for so many people but I love the hunt of finding just the right (bargain) gift that feels personal. When my brother actually suggested I get him a gift card, I laughed in his face. Instead, I headed to one of the best gems in Dallas, the giant Half Price Books on Northwest Highway.


I had a fantastic time walking around the different sections and hand-picking an assortment of books for Joel. In thirty minutes, I was able to pick out books about historical reenactors (so random), pasta, jazz, and G.I. Joe. I even found a few pics for some certain AAAD Readers as I was walking from section to section. HPB has an AMAZING selection of all sorts of books, records, DVDs, etc., but I especially love their cookbook section. It's incredibly organized (a whole section of tapas books, for example) and 90% of them look brand-new. Bonus, I even scored two coupon calendars with my purchase. Awesome experience.

Looking for a gift that's outside of the mall? Think Half Price Books, my absolute favorites, TJ Maxx and Marshalls (major scores there this weekend, and THE BEST place for totally cheap iPod/iPhone/iPad cases, accessories, etc.), or some other good ideas, like services: a maid service, a car detail, a massage, even a night of babysitting. How about a cooking or sewing class on the house? And of course, for the quirky, artsy, and/or collector in your life, you can't really beat a search of something your gift recipient is into on Etsy or ebay. Just check out these awesome finds from a simple "Muppet" search on etsy.

This Kermit on a vintage dictionary page print is something you could never find at a mall!


I love the randomness of this Dirty Bertie print, from my new favorite seller, BoopsieDaisy.


...Which led me to this Match Made In Oven print...


And this amazing collage of Who's On The Menu trading cards that I have to have for the empty wall in my kitchen.


Start searching or thinking about what your gift recipient is really in to, and I guarantee you'll come up with something great!

Happy Hunting, and hope you're looking forward to my month of awesome gifts posts starting soon!
Pia The Pig

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TARA AND JOEL!

Today, November 28, is AAAD Reader Tara's and my brother Joel's birthday. Happy day to Tara, who is a fantastic singer and creative co-worker of mine, and Joel, who has always been a fantastic role model and sibling to look up to. Hope y'all have a great day to kick off a truly wonderful year.

XOXO,
Pia The Pig