A Very Etsy Christmas

One of the downsides to living at the coast is the lack of shopping options.  Lincoln City has the outlet malls and that's about it.  Newport has a Fred Meyer and a Walmart. Those are our choices within a 1-hr radius of us.  Challenging at times, but we've learned to adapt.
This year we decided to support our fellow artists and do the majority of our shopping on etsy.
Things were really crazy with caramel orders (and beachwalkerz orders too!) but we managed to find some really unique gifts for each other:
Skott really outdid himself!  I love that he knows me so well. I got to open one present early (It arrived early December and Skott didn't think it would survive hidden under the bed in the dark for three weeks.  He was right.)

Airplants in urchin shells.
I have them hanging in two different windows.
They remind me of jellyfish.

Our "Christmas Eve" gifts:

repurposed bicycle chain bracelet

Moss sealed in resin Necklace

Thanks to jury duty, I was REALLY rushed the week before Christmas and SO stressed for time.... I completely forgot to take pictures of our tree, our wrapped presents under the tree, etc.
I should have known it was too good to be true:  I was feeling really good about the timeframe and all the things I wanted to make and do before Christmas.... and then jury duty with a multiple day trial (3 days and counting) plus work on top of that.... and all my plans were destroyed.  Skott had to pick up the slack and finish gifts, caramel orders, packaging, etc.  I had to let go of all my plans and fun ideas and accept the reality of the situation.  After many tears, and much frustration with the S-L-O-W postal system, Skott's final (and main) gift arrived Christmas Eve at about 5pm.  My mother's gifts were going one state over and they didn't make it in a week.  Sorry mom!
In light of all that happened, one of my gifts was especially special to me:

"Nature does not hurry yet everything is accomplished

This was Skott's main gift:

upcycled french horn acoustic speaker

Skott made me a "nutty" themed stocking, including some AMAZING Sriracha and Sweet Chili Pepper cashews (his own recipe) and bacon flavored coconut flakes.
I did a peanut butter/nut butter themed stocking (totally a coincidence that we both did "nut" related things haha is that saying something about how we perceive each other?)
Our two days off prior to Christmas was spent with friends.  It was lovely and full of much laughter and waaaayyyy too much good food!
Christmas Day we worked.  It was, sadly, very busy.  I know not everyone has families to spend the holidays with but I will NEVER understand why people chose to spend their time at the smoky casino when there is a beautiful beach RIGHT THERE.