Garden Gnomes and Bottle Cap Hotpads

Showers, weddings and babies, oh my.

You always think of the gift giving season as the winter holiday festivities, but I really think we should examine how many gifts we actually give to people during the warmer months of the year.

What’s the worst is figuring out just what to get people for one of the most auspicious occasions of their adult life. It’s not like you can buy them a really ugly sweater and call it a day. I’ve gotten bored though in my old age with sheet sets and crystal vases. Who am I kidding; I’ve never bought someone a vase in my life. I’m also not very enthused at buying things off of a list at Target.

What I love love love are people who add a little fun and originality to their gift giving. I once gave a bride a garden gnome as a wedding gift. Not kidding. Why you ask? I have no idea, but I can tell you this, I would LOVE to get a garden gnome as a gift. How can you not smile at the ridiculousness of a garden gnome?

Recently I went to the bridal shower of bridal showers. Set in a quaint garden setting, one of the most stylish people I know was showered by friends and family. Now what do you get someone who should have her own show on the style network and who owns just about any and everything you could even imagine when it comes to kitchen goods? Well one inspired individual had the good sense to present to this vintage loving bride-to-be a couple of sewn bottle cap hot pads. Can you imagine? Sigh, I want one!

I also heard through the grapevine that this awesome couple is receiving a custom made Cornhole set. So now that these awesome gifts have already been given, all that’s left for me to give them are Him and Her bath towels with scrolled golden stitching.

For future reference, I am putting together my wedding gift registry now:

• A vintage porthole window
• A cool looking bust statue
• A collection of star wars glasses (circa 1970-80s, brand Burger King)
• A Pirates vs Ninja chess set (if you can’t find one of those, you can whip one of these up and I’m sure it would suffice)
• And yes, a garden gnome

As an aside: if that certain family member that won my vintage roller derby skates during a Christmas white elephant game still has those…you can white elephant those back to me.