Happy Hanukkah!

It's not sundown for several more hours (here & west), so if you're looking for last-minute (& easy) ideas,  look here. It's not too late & anyway, there are seven more nights of celebration. 

Poems for Hanukkah.

 

 Menorahs to make (including the simple olive oil lights above) & a cupcake menorah (yes!).

GG house latke (currently). And because that would not be enough links: 16 latke recipes (all good).

 A lovely Pinterest board, Handmade Hanukkah.

Now where is our Hanukkah party invitation?! xoxo

(photograph by Linda Pugliese for Martha Stewart)

Make Vintage Christmas Cards

You can use these images for something other than cards, of course, use your imagination. It is that time of year; don't yell at the messenger! Christmas & Hanukkah are popular searches on GG so we're giving the people what they want.:) xo/gg

Vintage Holiday Crafts is a huge source of clip art for nearly every holiday & occasion. You can even make your own vintage-style gift certificate--for anything. We won't waste anyone's time listing, just visit. The rules are clear & the site is generous. It's hard to believe sometimes that anyone would do something like compile an enormous collection just because...but that appears to be the case.

Be An Angel

...and give some of your time or hard-earned cash to any of the worthy causes in GG's right side-bar titled Who, What, Where, When, Why To Help. That's really what we want for Christmas. (Well, that, & better health for the little redheaded feline.) Also random acts of kindness are super fun & calorie-free:) Happy first night of Hanukkah to everyone who celebrates!

ciao-meow/the Management

PS: Darling angel (easy) paper craft via The Guardian.

(photograph by the lovely liivia)

Hanukkah Prep

Hanukkah begins in just (slightly) over six days. Even if you do not celebrate the Festival of Lights, you probably know those who do. Wouldn't it be nice if you made something for their holiday? Imagine their surprise (& delight) when you offer them something you made, whether it's a quick card, a dreidel, a yummy edible, or a something slightly more elaborate. That could be your holiday gift to them. If you know they don't have a menorah that they really like, why not look here & see if one of these less-conventional designs might be something they'd like.

ciao-shalom-meow/GG Holiday Central

(marshmallow dreidels via Martha Stewart)

Make Vintage Christmas Cards

It's that time of year! (Stop yer grousin':) This is one of the most popular searches on GG.

Vintage Holiday Crafts is a huge source of clip art for nearly every holiday & occasion. You can even make your own vintage-style gift certificate--for anything. We won't waste anyone's time listing, just visit. The rules are clear & the site is generous. It's hard to believe sometimes that anyone would do something like compile an enormous collection just because...but that appears to be the case.

We also have Hanukkah crafts & clip art, & games. Because Hanukkah is not as early as last year, there's time to post in the coming weeks. However, if you are in the DC-area, or will be, & would like to go to the 20 December National Menorah lighting on the Mall, tickets go fast. Click here & good luck.

ciao-meow/GG Holiday Central

Sufganiyot Swoon

To our Jewish friends around the world: enjoy the latkes & sufganiyot tomorrow & the rest of Hanukkah. Any of you lagging behind in preparations, it's not too late. (You don't have to have every recipe every night--no matter what your bubbe says. But don't tell her we said so. You think we need the tsuris?) Here are some easy peasy recipes from Martha Stewart. Also a good group of recipes & a yummy slideshow from the New York Times. (images via Martha Stewart)

ciao-shalom-meow/GG Holiday Central

Hanukkah Crafts

Hanukkah begins at sunset on Wednesday, December 1st this year. (Crept up on you, didn't it?) Visit Vintage Holiday Crafts & Clip Art to download templates for projects. Also, click over to Martha Stewart for lots & lots of ideas & templates for gifts, decorations, & recipes.

We'll remind you later in the week, but if you live in the Washington, DC-area (or will be visiting), you might want to attend the lighting of the National Menorah. If that's the case, be sure to request tickets. They are free but they go fast. (images via Martha Stewart, Vintage Holiday)

ciao-shalom-meow/GG holiday coordinator

PS: Invite us over for latkes. Giulia promises to behave this year!

Make Your Own Vintage Holiday Cards

Vintage Holiday Crafts is a huge source of clip art for nearly every holiday & occasion. You can even make your own vintage-style gift certificate--for anything. We won't waste anyone's time listing, just visit. The rules are clear & the site is generous. It's hard to believe sometimes that anyone would do something like compile an enormous collection just because...but that appears to be the case.

This is a repeat but a popular search on Giulia Geranium. If you get started now, you can take your time & do some fruitful searches on the Vintage site. (We'll do a separate post for Hanukkah which is arriving really soon!) Remember Martha Stewart's site as a good source of ideas, Christmas & Hanukkah templates, clip art, & blogger-friendly posting ideas.

ciao-meow/GG's freebie coordinator

PS: West Elm has free downloads for holiday gift giving & entertaining. Here's the link if you missed it.

ZooLights 2009 - Bid Adieu to Tai Shan

The annual ZooLights Festival is ongoing at the National Zoo. It's lots of fun & this year if you're in the DC-area, you have a special reason to go. This is adorable panda Tai Shan's last Christmas in America. He will travel to China & take up residence quite soon. Throughout ZooLights, the Giant Panda Habitat will be open for extended hours for those who wish to bid farewell to Tai Shan before he departs for China in early 2010. The Chinese have extended Tai's stay twice due to pleas from the public. This time the departure is for real, so go as soon as you can. [photographs by Rachel Cooper]

ciao-cheery-meow/GG & her editor

Latke Love

Are you busy grating potatoes? Neither are we because we're invited to a Hanukkah party. If you want to give it a go, here's a good recipe. Now get to work!

[photo via Martha Stewart Living]

Hanukkah Dreidel - DIY

We know it's late as Hanukkah begins Friday, 11 December at sundown. There's still time to make some inexpensive & cute dreidels. These are made out of construction paper. Go here for all sorts of Hanukkah projects, decorating ideas, & recipes. If you don't celebrate Hanukkah, we bet you know someone who does. Surprise them with something special. (They'll invite you over for latkes & you'll be so very happy!)

ciao-shalom-meow/GG & her editor

[photograph via Martha Stewart Living]

1 Dollar is a fortune

IKEA's 2009 Soft Toy Aid tag line.* It matters not if you purchase a teensy rat (eek!) or something larger. IKEA donates the equivalent per soft toy purchased to UNICEF & Save the Children. A double-dip thought: adopt one more toy than you need & donate to Toys for Tots. (*£1 in the UK, €1 elsewhere)

ciao-early-merry-meow/the Management

[GG Central collage from IKEA images]

Happy Hanukkah!

We hope it's been a wonderful holiday. Have fun tonight! (Photographs via Martha Stewart). See here for Hanukkah section; bookmark & clip ideas for next year!

shalom!
GG & her editor

Happy First Night of Hanukkah!

To all our Jewish friends everywhere: Happy Hanukkah! We'll stick to that spelling for now. This pretty dreidel is from Vintage Holiday & Crafts Clip Art. Invite us over for latkes!

shalom!
GG & her editor