IKEA Soft Toy Aid 2011

A favorite holiday ritual has begun: the IKEA Soft Toy Aid campaign launched November 1st & runs through December 24th. As always, IKEA donates $1.00 (or 1 euro) for each soft toy purchased to Save the Children & UNICEF. This year, IKEA launched the U.S. campaign by donating thousands of much-needed cuddlies to Toys for Tots, another favorite organization. You could echo this by purchasing an inexpensive toy (or more) & then donating it to Toys for Tots. They've had a very difficult time the last 3 years & this year is unfortunately more-of-the-same.
 

Visit here for the Wembley (UK) store (or go to your nearest by changing the city); they are double-duty giving as well. We'll post more information throughout the campaign & do a round-up of what's going on in Canada, Europe & Australia. As far as we know, every IKEA store, in every country is involved in the campaign.
 

Suddenly, we're excited for the holidays. Giulia's pink ears perked up when she heard the IKEA video song. It's adorable, do watch!
 

ciao-merry-meow/GG Central
 

(Bjorn Bear via IKEA)

Remembrance Day

For our friends in Great Britain & Commonwealth countries. And for all the veterans in the United States on this Veterans Day.

(photograph by Susannah Conway)

Whitney Museum's For Kids

The Whitney Museum of American Art has a For Kids site for ages 8-12. It's in beta (testing) so they'd love your participation. It cannot get better unless you use it. Visit & be inspired. Plan a trip to the museum if you're in the city or not. Planning a trip has a way of making it happen (trust us). Check with Budget Travel magazine; they have excellent ideas, links, & planners.

ciao-arty-meow/GGCM

PS: The Whitney teens' site is very nice, too. Visit here.

(photograph via quarter life coe via julia)

Kristallnacht

Tonight is the 73rd anniversary of Kristallnacht (The Night of Broken Glass). The German Nazi-coordinated attacks on synagogues, Jewish-owned businesses, & homes were the beginning of what we know as the Holocaust. The U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum has excellent resources for teachers & students. We urge all teachers & parents to read Guidelines for Teaching about the Holocaust. No matter how much you know about the Holocaust, the museum has something to offer. (Here is last year's Kristallnacht post)

GG Garden Reminder - Indoor Bulbs

It's time, people! (Oops, it's past time.) Check shops & online for bulbs to force inside. Catalogue copy will usually indicate if a bulb is suitable for indoors persuasion. If you've never done this before, see Concha's post--with lovely photographs--on paperwhites; here's a good post on the ease of forcing regular old crocus bulbs. Kevin Lee Jacobs has an excellent post on indoor bulbs on Garden Design.

Giulia's editor has a longing for hyacinth & muscari this year. Hyacinth bulbs aren't as inexpensive as some others, so we're mulling it over. Possibly, we have mulled until (perhaps) the only hyacinth available will be single bulbs in the market. In which case, sold.

ciao-bloom-meow/GGCM

PS: You have time to plant last-minute bulb purchases outside. It's true, believe us. We've planted clearance-priced bulbs in the stinging cold.

(photograph by Kevin Lee Jacobs via Garden Design)

Starlings

Murmuration from Sophie Windsor Clive on Vimeo.

This video of a murmuration* of starlings has gone viral but we're posting it anyway as many of our friends haven't seen it yet. Watch as Sophie Windsor Clive & Liberty Smith row out on the River Shannon. Giulia was not quite sure what was going on but she was intrigued, nose tip to screen. *A murmuration is a collection of starlings. Read more about starlings, here.

ciao-wow-meow/GGCM

(starling flock over Brighton pier by Joffley)

Have a Cozy Weekend

Our weekend plans are in flux at the moment, hence the delay in posting. But one thing is for sure: we plan to keep warm & chase the cat! (There are many links on here & on bricolage for you to read.) Or join GG's editor on Twitter. Maybe it's time you joined, eh?

ciao-meow/GGCM

(lovely photograph by Le Portillon)

Supper Onion Pie for Tough Times

One of the key phrases most searched for on GG's blog is for this supper onion pie by Nigella Lawson. It is really easy & delicious. We don't have even one decent photograph of it, sorry. We are also sorrier than we can say that the tough times continue. The post is from autumn 2008. If you'd like to make something else with your lovely fresh red onions, Saveur's The Elegant Onion is a good place to start.

ciao-meow/GGCM

(vintage red onion via The Grapics Fairy)

Oh, Elmo

If you don't love Elmo, we don't want to hear about it! Being Elmo, A Puppeteer's Journey is a terrific new documentary now showing in cities across the States. It will be opening throughout November & December. It opens here in the Washington, DC area on the 11th. If it's not scheduled to show, why not (nicely) demand it? Here.

Of course, Sesame Street's site has many excellent games, coloring pages, & other activities. Here's Elmo's page. Have fun!

ciao-meow/GGCM

Update - 6 April 2012 Being Elmo is currently being shown on PBS stations. It is also available streaming on Netflix.

(Elmo by elmo elmo)

Perfect Fried Eggs

After so many years of cooking eggs, you'd think we wouldn't need a refresher. But this morning, one bite of an egg that could bounce off the floor, & we went looking. Really, we just need to pay attention & not have the burner on so high.

Here's one long-ish explanation; one less so. Both have wonderful photographs. For something only slightly more involved, make an omelette wrap. We can't wait for the weekend farmers market; we'll splurge on some fresh eggs. Yum.

ciao-meow/GGCM

(photograph by Katie Quinn Davies)

Art & Design for Human Rights

ART WORKS Projects’ mission is to use design and the arts to raise awareness of and educate the public about significant human rights and environmental issues.

ART WORKS provides visual advocacy tools which produce action on human rights crises at the grassroots, media, and policy levels. Conceptualized and created in conjunction with established humanitarian and human rights advocacy organizations, ART WORKS’ art and design exhibitions, books, recordings, films, and other initiatives provide opportunities for large numbers of the general population to engage in ending major human rights violations. via Art Works Projects

On November 8th, Horn of Africa, a multimedia exhibit by ART WORKS Projects will open at George Washington University. You are invited. Here are the details (there's also a panel discussion with John Prendergast & a concert afterwards). Check here to see if the exhibit will be coming to your area.

(photograph by Andrew/Cuba Gallery)

Día de los Muertos

GG's editor has always wanted to travel to Mexico for the Day of the Dead. Alas, not this year (again). But we will be visiting the always-interesting Mexican Cultural Institute (in Washington, DC) to see the Day of the Dead altar before 23 November. Visit virtually & read all about it. Also, the Mexican Sugar Skull site is comprehensive & a lot of fun for kids of all ages. Day of the Dead is a terrific site, too with celebration, history, & activities.

Now, for the most fun - even Giulia looked up. Visit the interactive Smithsonian's Latino Center Day of the Dead & build your own altar. There are history lessons, a teacher's link, glossary, everything you need. Very cool. The Frida Kahlo (they are separate) images are by Frances Perea & are for sale on Redbubble. She has posters, prints, cards & postcards for sale, here.

ciao-meow/GGCM

(Frida Kahlo prints by Frances Perea; Day of the Dead altar by Steve Bridger)

Guardian Gourds

These fairy-lighted pumpkins seem to stand guard against evil spirits abroad in the land. We thought it a nice thought on a spooky evening. Happy Hallowe'en, Samhain, Nos Calan Gaeaf!

ciao-shivery-meow/GG

(photograph via Martha Stewart via bricolage)

Happy Halloween!

Giulia & her editor wish everyone a fun & safe Halloween!

ciao-boo-meow/GGCM

PS: If you're stuck for Halloween ideas, check National Geographic Kids.

(vintage illustration via The Graphics Fairy)

Halloween Bat Headband

...and other costumes you can make tonight or Sunday. Yes, yes. You can do it. If you're in the eastern part of the country, welcome to snow & ice. Already. There might be materials at home for costume construction; if not, if it's safe to drive or walk, maybe you want to escape all that college football for a bit. Just a thought...

Here are last minute Halloween ideas from Martha Stewart's website. Everything from pumpkin carving templates to costumes for grownups & children to food. All you have to do is download & print. If you don't have ink, just wing it. We particularly like this easy bat headband. Dress in black leggings & a sweater, perhaps add a cape if you have one. Clean simple bat chic.

ciao-boo-meow/GGCM

PS: Remember the wonderful Halloween ideas from National Geographic Kids.

(photograph via Martha Stewart)

Pretty Deer

While chasing Giulia (into everything as usual), beginning (!) Halloween prep, & readying for what feels like a sudden cold snap, GG's editor slowed down enough to see deer outside the window early this a.m. The building borders a finger of Rock Creek Park so that makes sense. We know that deer have become a controversial subject in many parts of the country. We're not getting into that now. They are pretty to us.

We use Sharon Montrose's baby deer notepad for daily lists. It might be discontinued, hope not. Will check that out. These brass deer on Etsy would be pretty for autumn/holiday decor, no? Karen at the The Graphics Fairy has three versions of the vintage deer ready to print out today. All in all a satisfying bit of synchronicity.

Back tonight/tomorrow!

ciao-meow/GGCM

(images via HanaPee & The Graphics Fairy)

Pepita Party

Make some of these as soon as you can. Pepitas (or pumpkin seeds but it's so fun to say 'pepitas') are fresh this time of year. From pumpkin carving to doing what we did: buy a bag at Whole Foods or your co-op. We just made the Maryland style & there are 5 more variations on the darling Cherry Tea Cakes blog. You can make up something of your own, too. Yum.

PS: Do you have your pumpkin yet? No? Neither do we. Don't panic. There's a whole weekend left before Halloween. We keep telling everyone & anyone who will listen.

ciao-meow/GG Snack Central

(photograph by Cherry Tea Cakes)

Domestic Violence Awareness Month

We define domestic violence as a pattern of abusive behavior in any relationship that is used by one partner to gain or maintain power and control over another intimate partner. Domestic violence can be physical, sexual, emotional, economic, or psychological actions or threats of actions that influence another person. This includes any behaviors that intimidate, manipulate, humiliate, isolate, frighten, terrorize, coerce, threaten, blame, hurt, injure, or wound someone. --USDOJ Office on Violence Against Women

If you are at risk, or you know someone who is (or suspect that they are at risk), please visit the website. We are aware that men are often victims & can receive help through the office. The National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-SAFE (7233); 1-800-787-3224 (TTY)

Here is a link to other countries' national domestic abuse hotlines. Get help or help someone!

(photograph via Saving Grace)

Degas & Dancers

If you're in the Washington, DC area (or will be by January 8, 2012), definitely stop in to the new Degas exhibit at The Phillips Collection. There's also a Degas exhibit on at the Royal Academy of Arts in London. There are some good articles in the New York Times & a good slideshow on The Guardian. Here's the Degas label on The Guardian, too, so you can see all the article titles at once.

Can you tell we're rushing? Yes.We're dragging our laundry in & out of the rain & up & down the stairs. At least that's a bit of exercise. Growl.

ciao-meow/GG's beleaguered editor

PS: If you have little ones around, remember these New York City Ballet link coloring pages.

(Dancers at the Barre/Phillips Collection via Wikipedia

Haiku Cat Master Cat Food Breath

Such a large tummy/ I can't wash it all at once/ A squeegee would help. -- Cat Food Breath

The funniest cat on Twitter now has a website. That's right: Cat Food Breath is now entertaining supplicants at more than 140 characters. Those of you who resist Twitter & Facebook can partake of the wit & wisdom of a 17-pound Siamese with a sushi habit. CFB stays au courant, as well, so #OccupytheCouch is now part of the Twitterverse.

CFB brightens our day with pithy one-liners, haiku (original & um, reworked), & philosophical asides, even fashion advice (accessorize with cat fur. It's gonna happen anyway). Not a day goes by without a laugh-out-loud moment. Or several. This is not a one-sided affair either; CFB will gladly converse with you & set you straight as to who is the boss. Be sure to use the word 'cute' in any reference to CFB, it will smooth the way. Here is a funny interview that CFB gave to the lovely author of paper bag & string (& of the website Careers For Your Cat, more about which soon).

What follows are some original haiku by the master. Read in bemused tone as if to an oaf. Used by permission.

Has your cat been fed?/ Don't let the bowl stay empty/ Kitty needs food now.

Are you wearing black? / Accessorize with cat fur/ You will look stunning.

Quit hogging the bed/ You are always on my side/ I need more pillows.

Where's my crunchy food? / My bowl seems to be empty/ Fill it now or else.

ciao-giggle-meow/GGCM

(photograph with kind courtesy of CFB)