• Home
  • about emily
  • before + after
  • HGTV + DIY Network
  • good press
  • contact
  • Let’s Organize These Posts:

    • Art Attack
    • Backyard
    • Barn
    • Basement
    • Bathroom
    • Beach
    • Bedrooms
    • Being Thrifty
    • Business-y
    • Buying and Renting and Selling
    • Casual Celebrations
    • Closets
    • Curb Appeal
    • Dainty Details
    • Deck
    • Decor
    • Dining Room
    • DIY
    • Dog-Related
    • Entryway
    • Flooring
    • For the Kids
    • Garage
    • Gardening
    • Helping The Economy
    • HGTV + DIY Network Projects
    • Holiday-Related Projects
    • Home Safety
    • Kitchen
    • Lighting
    • Living Room
    • Merry Travels
    • Office Space
    • Organized
    • Other Pads
    • Outdoor Living
    • Scooter Fun
    • Stairwell
    • Sunroom
    • Supporting Sponsors
    • The Art Room
    • Tools
    • Uncategorizable
    • Wedding
    • Windows
    • Work-pads
  • Search

  • Hi, I’m Emily

    Emily Fazio

    I'm a home improvement enthusiast, living a very merry DIY lifestyle.

    You can find me writing for HGTV and DIY Network, follow me on facebook and instagram, or drop me a note if you'd like. I love notes.

    Thanks for visiting!

  • BROWSE POSTS BY CATEGORY:

    • Art Attack (7)
    • Backyard (92)
    • Barn (8)
    • Basement (27)
    • Bathroom (43)
    • Beach (13)
    • Bedrooms (73)
    • Being Thrifty (53)
    • Business-y (12)
    • Buying and Renting and Selling (23)
    • Casual Celebrations (36)
    • Closets (17)
    • Curb Appeal (44)
    • Dainty Details (8)
    • Deck (23)
    • Decor (286)
    • Dining Room (37)
    • DIY (577)
    • Dog-Related (24)
    • Entryway (59)
    • Flooring (58)
    • For the Kids (32)
    • Garage (17)
    • Gardening (70)
    • Helping The Economy (30)
    • HGTV + DIY Network Projects (283)
    • Holiday-Related Projects (80)
    • Home Safety (12)
    • Kitchen (83)
    • Lighting (31)
    • Living Room (77)
    • Merry Travels (21)
    • Office Space (21)
    • Organized (41)
    • Other Pads (14)
    • Outdoor Living (12)
    • Scooter Fun (8)
    • Stairwell (20)
    • Sunroom (22)
    • Supporting Sponsors (43)
    • The Art Room (3)
    • Tools (43)
    • Uncategorizable (1)
    • Wedding (28)
    • Windows (14)
    • Work-pads (10)
  • Search

  • Pages

    • blog
    • Merrypad Features
    • Privacy Policy
    • about emily
    • before + after
      • before + after, our current home
      • before + after, our first house
    • contact me
    • choose a badge and share the merrypad.com love
  • Home
  • about emily
  • before + after
  • HGTV + DIY Network
  • good press
  • contact

Gifty Gift-Gifts 2011

December 27, 2011

We had a radical + relaxing Christmas weekend mushed between a crazy last week and a crazier this week (I started gutting our bathroom yesterday, more to come on that, or on twitter if you follow me there). No big surprise here, most everyone we know gifts us tools and home goodies at any appropriate holiday (and we like buying those kinds of gifts for others too). Just wanted to take a quick day and share with you some of our most prized new holy holiday possessions (and share some of the most coveted items we bought and gifted to others).

Starting with a big item: I got what I asked for, and I asked for cleaning supplies like a woman should. Specifically, I’ve had my eye on a steam cleaner to help sanitize all of the hardwoods in the house; when it comes to cleaning the floors on my hands and knees with Murphy Oil Soap, I only muster the energy every few months. To all my friends who sit on the floors, I probably shouldn’t mention that publicly. I never found Swiffer cloths or products like that to be as good or thorough as expected, but hopefully with the easy-to-use and maneuver HAAN MULTI model that Pete bought me, this house will be the cleanest its ever been. Eat off the floors, friends.

HAAS steam cleaner.

Bonus: Not only for hardwoods, it’s perfect for vinyl, tile, etc., and the model came with an attachment to steam clean carpets and has a built-in handheld unit. Score. But can I use it to steam clean my clothes too?

Side note: I was in the middle of gutting the bathroom yesterday when I decided to snap this product shot, taking advantage of some natural daylight. I’m telling you that so you understand why I look like I’m wearing negative make-up and haven’t slept in 10 days. But the fleece jacket is new. For Christmas. From Pete. Cozy + magenta.

HAAS steam cleaner.

Both Pete and I found ourselves opening lots of tools from our respective families. They’re equally awesome, but I’m most excited to try the Bosch digital multi-detector from Mom and Dad. Word on the street (on the box) says it can find anything from studs behind drywall to quarters stuck in 4-ft. of cement. Also, must try out the Bionic Wrench (because it’s bionic and I’ve never seen anything like it). And the Weldbond, because we over here appreciate (and test) strong glues.

Tool happies.

Also new to the toolbox, this handy ruler from a DIY Network gift bag. Coolest ruler ever, or coolest ruler ever? Can’t stop playing with it.

Fancy ruler!

If I could have predicted one thing year, it would not have been that I’d successfully transform my father into Fishs Eddy’s #1 fan (when I wrote about them here). “I’ve spent hundreds of dollars ordering goodies from them online,” he noted on Christmas Eve night when we exchanged gifts. I have yet to see any of his hundreds of dollars of purchases, but the Charley Harper + Todd Oldham plowls were a very surprising gift. Yeah, plowls. They’re kind of a combo plate + bowl, even though they’re normal plates to most of you people. I’ll call them whatever I want if for no other reason than that their edges are a bit higher than other plates in my assorted dinnerware collection, and I think that’ll make them fab for pasta. They’re utterly awesome in person (and I noticed the collection was on sale at Fishs Eddy, check it, maybe still is).

Fish's Eddy + Dad FTW.

Ironically, I was drawn to/bought myself my first plowl at Anthropologie on Christmas Eve-day at an awesome extra 50% off clearance. And an actual bowl. Total purchase = $5.68, yeehah!

My own purchases: New Anthropologie plowl and bowl.

Another side note: We hoped to see bazillions of crazy shoppers on Christmas Eve at the mall, but no such luck. It was a dead zone, and we didn’t even have to elbow people for salsa samples in Le Gourmet Chef. Where was everyone?

While we’re talking about kitchen-y stuff, Pete and I both picked up knives for each other as gifts this year. Not uber-pricy ones, but the colorful ones that can always be found on the shelf at Marshall’s. Mine for him is intended for cutting sandwiches. His for me is designed for tomatoes. Excitement ensued, mostly because there’s not much that beats the sharpness of a brand new knife.

Knives! I love Christmas.

More home stuff: Dad bought us a great wool blanket (he knows I keep this house like a refrigerator), Pete bought more dish towels (cute stripeys), and my friend’s mom surprised me with a polka-dotted sweater (sure to be seen in future bloggy photos, because I’ll probably be wearing it every other day). Also, everyone pointed out that they bought what they did because they knew how much I liked golds, greens, whites, and ivories based on what my house paint colors actually are, so… right on.

Blanket, towels, and sweater gifts!

We gave some fun home gifts to our family and friends too. Too many to mention all of them, but some of our favorites were these:

A set of 4 Cynthia Rowley dessert plates (every one was different and I wish I had bought two sets… to keep one for myself):

Dessert plates.

A new serving bowl with fantastic clean lines (for my mom + dad, from Marshall’s, but looks like it’s from a more happenin’ store like CB2, also wish I bought one for myself. That sentiment, you’ll find, is an on-going theme. I’m so generous.):

Serving bowl.

I picked up a pretty vase for my mom in my travels last month; the picture doesn’t do it justice (the full-size image didn’t focus well), but the whole unit consists of four beaker glass bulbs joined in a row (you can kind of see the tunnels that connect the bulbs, water could flow right on through from end-to-end. Perfect for springtime buds and assorted little bouquets (she’s quite the gardener), it’ll be lovely on the kitchen windowsill above the sink.

Vase for mom.

And last but not least, I bought my sister a print from the etsy shop SarahGiannobile. The ornate detailing in the print combined with the clean-lined RIBBA frame (one of the goodies I brought back from our recent IKEA trip) made me almost keep it for myself. That’s a custom mat in there too, Annie, appreciate. Hopefully someday she’ll have her own little home and I can go over there and enjoy staring at it as much as I enjoyed staring at it while it sat unwrapped in my living room (or, I might stare at it so hard that it finds its way back into my car, oops).

A print for Annie.

What’d you get? What’d you buy? What’d you get for yourself and for someone else because you couldn’t stand the pressure?

Share

Holiday-Related Projects  / Tools

Emily
I'm a home improvement enthusiast, living a very merry DIY lifestyle. You can find me writing for HGTV and DIY Network, follow me on facebook and instagram, or drop me a note if you'd like. I love notes.

6 Comments


Erin B. Inspired
December 28, 2011 at 11:58 pm
Reply

I got a steamer, too! (But you already knew that.) Also, that bulb vase is awesome!



    Emily
    December 29, 2011 at 1:34 pm

    The vases remind me a lot of one bud vases I picked up from CB2 a few years ago; so delicate and pretty!

Marylou
December 30, 2011 at 1:49 am
Reply

Love those plates……thinking of displaying on the wall.



    Emily
    December 30, 2011 at 7:54 am

    That’d be fun! All four colors would be fun accents in your kitchen. Individually or together. Just sayin’.

rach-dawgg
December 30, 2011 at 3:05 pm
Reply

i am jealous of your steam cleaner!!!! i love being able to tell people to eat off my floors or to lick my kitchen sink lol! love the plates- loved the plates you got my mom too- she loves them as well! she’s going to put them on the wall i believe!



    rach-dawgg
    December 30, 2011 at 3:05 pm

    oh wow! just noticed my mom commented before me saying she was going to put them on the wall lol

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

  • HI, I’m Emily

    Emily Fazio

    I'm a home improvement enthusiast, living a very merry DIY lifestyle. Follow me on facebook and instagram, or drop me a note if you'd like. I love notes.

    Thanks for visiting!

  • Instagram

    Can’t believe I ever bought dumpling wrappers. 🥟 Pulse a few cups of flour in the food processor drizzling in cold water until it forms dough. Roll smooth. Use a conveniently large cookie cutter, or just trim out squares. The end ❤️ #hny #dumplings
    Didn’t think I’d be making more masks, but her Didn’t think I’d be making more masks, but here we are (now feat. recycled t-shirt layer for added softness and bonus-layer protection). #diy #amateurseamstress #diymask
    Get out there ☀️ Get out there ☀️
    The gang finally showed up. 👻 The gang finally showed up. 👻
    A record 233 cloves + 10 shallots 🧛🏻‍♀️ 
#merrypadathome #garden2021 #garlic #gardennotes #whatisnormal
    ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
    Immeasurably tall, lanky tomatillos. #garden2020 # Immeasurably tall, lanky tomatillos. #garden2020 #tomatillos #nofilter
    32 oz., reserved for the brave 🌶🌶 😍#homeg 32 oz., reserved for the brave 🌶🌶 😍#homegrown #tomatillos #harvest2020
    Nothing says “let’s stay home all fall, too” Nothing says “let’s stay home all fall, too” like a badass custom fireplace on our patio. 🔥 #chiminea #merrypadathome
    Load More... follow emily: @merrypad



  • Like Us On Facebook

    Facebook Pagelike Widget



  • Popular Posts

    • How to fix an IKEA drawer. Cheap IKEA Drawers (And The Quick Fix) 40.1k views
    • DIY sideboard rehab. Our Refinished Midcentury Buffet 39.7k views
    • How to design and make a barn quilt. How to Make Your Own Barn Quilt 33.3k views
    • DIY driveway removal. The Driveway Rocks 24.7k views
    • How to hang art on brick surfaces using specialty clips. The Easy Way to Hang Art on Brick or Stone 24.4k views
    • Goodbye, gold fireplace covering. Less Is More: How to Remove a Fireplace Surround 22.2k views
    • Our DIY flagstone patio. Building a Patio in One Day 17.4k views
    • Bedroom paint, freshened up with Snowbound paint. Painting Everything White: We Chose Snowbound, By Sherwin Williams 16.5k views
    • Tips for dying pasta different colors, and a Halloween Recipe for the kids. Tips for Dying Pasta Different Colors (+ A Special Halloween Recipe) 15.3k views
    • Finished stained kitchen cabinets. Javalicious, A Gel Staining Reveal (Update #3) 14.2k views



  • BROWSE POSTS BY CATEGORY:

    • Art Attack (7)
    • Backyard (92)
    • Barn (8)
    • Basement (27)
    • Bathroom (43)
    • Beach (13)
    • Bedrooms (73)
    • Being Thrifty (53)
    • Business-y (12)
    • Buying and Renting and Selling (23)
    • Casual Celebrations (36)
    • Closets (17)
    • Curb Appeal (44)
    • Dainty Details (8)
    • Deck (23)
    • Decor (286)
    • Dining Room (37)
    • DIY (577)
    • Dog-Related (24)
    • Entryway (59)
    • Flooring (58)
    • For the Kids (32)
    • Garage (17)
    • Gardening (70)
    • Helping The Economy (30)
    • HGTV + DIY Network Projects (283)
    • Holiday-Related Projects (80)
    • Home Safety (12)
    • Kitchen (83)
    • Lighting (31)
    • Living Room (77)
    • Merry Travels (21)
    • Office Space (21)
    • Organized (41)
    • Other Pads (14)
    • Outdoor Living (12)
    • Scooter Fun (8)
    • Stairwell (20)
    • Sunroom (22)
    • Supporting Sponsors (43)
    • The Art Room (3)
    • Tools (43)
    • Uncategorizable (1)
    • Wedding (28)
    • Windows (14)
    • Work-pads (10)





  • a little bit of everything, friends, DIY, and inspiration

    • Dadand.com < My husband and his BFF
    • DIY Network
    • HGTV
  • Get Posts Via Email

  • Some Legal

    Merrypad incorporates the occasional affiliate link to Amazon.com and Minted; we link to many other websites and products, but if it is in context of a paid sponsorship, it is always noted as such. Please review the privacy policy and contact me if you have any additional questions.

    Theme customized by Pete Fazio Creative, the guy from dadand.com.


© Copyright Merrypad