Flee to the Cleve

Thursday, November 29, 2012

Shop Small - My Favorite Companies {and Indie Craft Parade}

It's fun to see all the bloggers' gift guides going up at this time of year. I've discovered a lot of great small companies that way over the past few years, and I always look forward to seeing new ideas (like these and these).

I also loved Amex's Shop Small efforts last Saturday. It was nice to see a giant supporting small business!

Here's a chance to support local artisans this weekend and do some holiday shopping. The Food Truck Rodeo certainly doesn't hurt, especially because Neue Southern's new menu made my eyes pop. Flounder and Greens and Israeli Couscous forever.

Other businesses I love:

Baby, It's Cold Outside

Last night John and I drank Old Fashioneds made with this,

What is Marriage: Holiday Traditions

What would marriage be without two different families to negotiate around the holidays? John and I got lucky; our parents live only three hours apart, so we're able to see them both over Christmas. Typically we spend Christmas Eve in Atlanta with his mom and Christmas Day in Aiken with my family. Although it was exciting to share each other's family holiday traditions after we met, it's been just as lovely to develop our own.

Home for the Holidays means different things for different people. Hopefully, all of you had a great time, and if you're lucky, you might even be starting this week with one or two more stories for the books. Perhaps you bravely got on your little cousin's trampoline, only to feel closer to 30 than ever before in the grasp of the motion sickness that ensued. Your little brother might have convinced your dad to go to Black Friday at 1 am "to get shampoo" and visit Waffle House. Your dad might have even gotten up to dance Gangnam Style during Saturday dinner.

These things all happened in Aiken this Thanksgiving.