Ok, bad pun title I know, but blame it on Warner Brothers…it’s from one of my favorite old school Bugs Bunny cartoons Hair-Raising Hare. For those of you old enough to remember watching Merrie Melodies on Saturday mornings, this cartoon features the first appearance of the big red monster in sneakers Gossamer. No? Not ringing a bell? No worries, it’s honestly not the focus of this post anyway. With Easter this coming Sunday I thought it might be fun to do a little rabbit roll-call with some of my favorite bunny themed products on the web:

Baby Victoria Organic Plush Bunny and Knitted Bunny

Free paper toy downloads from the Toymaker: Bowling Bunnnies and a Bunny Basket

Bowling Bunnies by Schylling

Little Golden Book Grandpa Bunny, The Easter Bunnie’s Parade

Soap Cafe Chocolate Soap Bunnies

Kata Golda Personalized Felt Bunnies

Marshmallow Bunnies How-To

See’s Handmade Rabbit Candies

The Country Bunny and the Little Golden Shoes

Jennifer Murphy Bunnies

The great (and extensive) on-line family resource site Kaboose has compiled a wonderful selection of kiddo-friendly Irish inspired recipes in honor of St. Patrick’s Day. So rather than celebrating Monday with a bowl of Lucky Charms perhaps you’ll consider treating the kiddos to mustard crusted corned beef, Irish soda bread, roasted cabbage and apples, or oatmeal lace cookies. Simple, beautiful and delicious food. Also see their St. Patrick’s Day Leftovers Recipes. Erin go braugh!

I’m a sucker for the sweet yet corny, pun-ridden sentiments of vintage Valentines. Combine these with my love of food and you have the following:

Whether Elvis is taking care of business in the great beyond or in a Pensacola, FL double-wide, today is his 73rd birthday. Celebrations are being held around the world, the most notable of which is the annual big bash at Graceland. Don’t live near Memphis? No worries, I’ve compiled a few simple ways for you and the kiddos to pay homage to the King.

1. Let’s start with the obvious - a song-along! Elvis Sings for Kids is a 2002 compilation of lesser known performances of children’s songs and lullabyes. His rendition of Old MacDonald is my favorite. There’s also Blue Suede Shoes: Elvis Songs for Kids, a selections of well known tunes sung by children and Elvis for Babies, a less successful muzak collection of lullabye-wanna-bes. I’m hoping that it’s only a matter of time before Rockabye Baby or Punk Rock Baby release an Elvis tribute album. Whatever version you decide on, you’re sure to sound better crooning into an official Elvis Presley Glitter Microphone.

2. Need a snack after all that singing and dancing? Why not whip up an Elvis favorite - peanut butter and bacon sandwiches! Save room for dessert - Elvis Pez.

3. The King’s wardrobe has always been great fodder for dress-up. What kid wouldn’t love a sparkling cape or blue suede shoes! Take a look at the little Elvis impersonators I found on Flickr.com.

1. Elvis is alive and well, 2. Elvis…, 3. Elvis has left the building,
4. Lil’ Elvis

4. Finally wind down the day by helping the kids into their Elvis pjs (warm from the dryer is always the best!) and tuck them into bed with their very own singing, pompadour sporting commemorative Elvis teddy bears.

I’m telling you, the goodies over at Fjorn Scandinavian are enough to make me want to move to Denmark…or at least put it on my travel list. They carry a wide range of “beautiful new things from the Old World” but their items for the short set are especially delicious. Danish Christmas Pixies whose pocket covered jumpers create an advent calendar, Danish Queen’s Guards Bowling Set, a pink velvet Christmas Pig, a miniature Princess and the Pea Play Set, woven wool blankets covered in woodland animals, and unbearably cute character rattles…prepare to swoon.

Now it wouldn’t be Christmas without a visit to the Scared of Santa Photo Gallery. Like Charlie Brown and his beloved reject tree, you don’t know whether to laugh or cry at this archive of bellowing babes. Considering I’d cross the street to avoid most of these big red beasties it’s hard not to sympathize with kiddos thrust into their arms. And like all good horror flicks there’s a sequel - the Even More Scared of Santa Photo Gallery.

Inspire Company’s selection of holiday trimmings will have you feeling nostalgic and longing for a white Christmas no matter what climate you live in.  I’ve already placed an order for the vintage reproduction gift boxes ($3.50 each) and snow people stickers ($2.50 for 6)…and now I’m wondering if I should go back and add the German Santa nodder ($9.00) and handcrafted candy cane trees ($16.00-$32.00) to my shopping cart.  Owner Amy is one of the sweetest souls you can imagine and it’s reflected in all of her retro inspired gifts and goodies.

Not feeling up to tackling trays of sugar cookies and bags of royal icing this year? Consider A. Bel Emporium’s tin of Holiday Kitsch for Christmas cupcake decorating. Packed with more than 40 topping miniatures, sanding sugar and baker’s twine for packaging this little kit is packed with retro charm. $24.50 including shipping.

Like thousand of others I’ve taken the pledge to buy handmade this holiday season and am requesting that others do the same for me. If, like me, you live in the Los Angeles area I want to plug a handful of handmade shopping events taking place this month and next. But no matter where you reside, take a moment to visit the vendor pages on each of these event’s websites - many, if not most, of the artists, designers and craftspeople participating have online shops stocked and waiting for you!

Felt Club: XL Holiday
On Sunday, November 18, from 11am-6pm Felt Club is hosting 75+ artists, crafters, and designers from SoCal and beyond who’ll show off their latest and greatest D.I.Y. wares for your handmade-shopping pleasure! There will be fresh and delicious eats and drinks from renowned Eagle Rock eatery Auntie Em’s Kitchen and you’ll enjoy happy shopping music from our DJs, Dirty Robot and Lance Rock. With your $5 admission, you’ll receive a ticket to win a fantastic door prize, and the first 250 visitors will be treated to swag bags full of cool magazines, craft patterns, coupons, buttons, li’l gifts and samples from sponsors and vendors. Last but not least, they’re offering a full roster of hands-on craft classes throughout the day. Click here for complete event information.

Maker Square
Maker Square is the fair-within-a-fair - a mini version of the popular Maker Faire event - hosted by the staff of Make and Craft magazines. Maker Square brings together science, art, craft and engineering in a fun, energized and exciting public forum. The aim is to inspire people of all ages to roll up their sleeves and become makers. Expect to see demonstrations (often hands-on) in robotics, unusual musical instruments, soft circuits, microcontrollers, and more. The Maker Square portion of Felt Club will feature people like Mister Jalopy, who will demonstrate his Mobile Drive-In Movie Projector (featured on the cover of MAKE Vol.11), Jason Torchinsky’s “Super Stick”, a 5-foot tall Atari 2600 joystick (which actually works!!), Jed Berk and his Blubberbots, and many more. In short, Maker Square is DIY meets techno-nerdiness at it’s best!

Handmade for the Holidays
On Friday and Saturday, November 23 and 24, from 11-6pm The HomeGrownMarket.com will be hosting “Handmade For The Holidays” Art, Fashion & Crafts Fair at Fairfax High School on the corner of Melrose and Fairfax. This is the first year for this market but it looks to be not only well located, but well organized with over 150 vendors selling an amazing array of beautiful, creative, and thoughtful products. Find unique and one-of-a-kind fashion, jewelry, baby and children’s items, furniture & decor, bath & body products, art, novelty gifts, holiday items and more. FREE Gift Bags (while supplies last, valued $10-$250 each), FREE Gift Wrapping, FREE Parking, FREE Sit & Relax Lounge, FREE GIVEAWAYS every hour, great holiday music, free chocolate giveaways, Craft & Art Stations, & gourmet lunches and holiday treats. Admission is just $2. Please click here for complete event details.

Little Monster Market
On December 8th from 10am-3pm Little Monster Market, LA’s only handmade market dedicated soley to items for the short set, pairs up with Cool Baby to host a special holiday shopping event. Free Admission. Click here for complete event details.

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