Brown Paper Packages Tied Up with String (and more!)

Bauble ideas for that *extra touch*

Happy EVERYTHING! That’s how it’s feeling this year anyway. With Thanksgiving so late this year, the holiday rush has felt more “rushy” than normal. I have all of the gifts I’m going to give thankfully but now I have to wrap them all.

Wrapping is honestly my favorite part but it is time consuming and I’m always worried about the waste of all the materials that go into wrapping. One of my favorite ways to do gift tags without actual gift tags is to add different baubles to each present. I might slide a tag on using a rectangle made from a grocery bag with a name, or sometimes I commit to memory which one is for which person. Doing things this way means that the “gift tags” can be used as ornaments and holiday or winter decor, which will last much longer than a typical gift tag might. It can serve as a reminder to the person receiving the package of you - how sweet is that!

Here are some of my best tips for wrapping presents up so they are gorgeous, thoughtful, and are a little more eco-conscious.

• Use ribbons, dried oranges, cinnamon sticks, and dried anise to make little bundles of beauty to attach to the front of the package. These will smell yummy and can double as an ornament after!

• Make beaded bows which can also double as an ornament!

• Wooden beads of various sizes strung together are super cute and natural! I have so many of these on my tree!

• Use air dry clay to make little bows!

• Origami stars can easily double as a garland for the following year’s holiday cheer.

• Snip some pine tree branches to tuck behind the strings, or use dried eucalyptus or fresh herbs to “greenify” a present.

• Add a pretty image (from a magazine, a post card, the front of an old holiday card, or a photo). This is a great opportunity to thrift these items!

Whether you have a budget for new wrapping paper, or need to use what you have on hand, your gifts to loved ones can be pretty little packages!

Audrey’s Cookbooks Updates

I’m wrapping up the year and whoa, I’m so grateful for all of you for supporting the shop near and far. I got the biz off the ground, did some pop-ups and cookbook clubs, and spread the word about the Midwest’s first cookbooks shop! I’ll be dreaming and vision boarding for 2025 over the next few weeks, and I’m so excited for what is to come. Here is a peek at the board so far:

Things I Like

• This bow bolo from my friend, Pearl’s biz

• The cherry coke color trend prediction for 2025. I used to dye my hair this color in college and it was a stunner, and it was a main color in our wedding color scheme nearly 10 years ago. Trends really do come back around.

• Don’t forget about poking a bunch of cloves in an orange! It smells so good!

May your week be gentle and may you eat well. 🌲🥣