image via

 

Nesting is an amazing, powerful force as any pregnant woman can tell you (and probably the husbands and partners of said pregnant women would agree with me).

Grout is my demise.  To me, every tiled surface, whether it be floor or counter, looks filthy and must scrubbed immediately (I had this with my first pregnancy too).  Closets have also been reorganized, kitchen pantry has been sorted through, Sawyer’s cars/trains/airplanes now have homes, and front yard roses ripped out (sorry Deirdre!).  I had an “episode” last week where I could not stop cleaning the kitchen and Beau had to grab me by the shoulders and tell me to go to sleep.

I think I have gotten to a place where I can relax a little more on the cleaning frenzy.  It is just maintenance mode at this point, a touch up here or there on the grout, maybe, because it is countdown time!  Only a week to go until my due date, which pretty much means this baby can come at any time and my house can and will immediately transform into a disaster.

Valentine’s Day is a really fun and cheerful holiday for us at The Sock Drawer.  It seems that many people like to give their sweetheart, friends, co-workers, moms, and sisters heart socks for the day of love.

(It’s also really convenient that our shop is located just two doors up from Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory — socks + chocolate = a sweet treat!)

This year’s heart collection is pretty darn cute.  I am already sporting a pair of the Striped Hearts.  I attempted to take a picture earlier, but at this point, it is all pregnant belly when I look down.  Ha!

Another great thing about Valentine’s Day socks is that you can pull off wearing them year round pretty easily, versus looking suspect while wearing those Santa socks in July.

You can check out our full Valentine’s collection here.

One of the things I have missed the most during my pregnancy is sushi.  I sure do love it.  Unfortunately, tempura shrimp rolls are just not cutting it anymore.  Plus a new beautiful Japanese restaurant opened up right across the street from The Sock Drawer that is just calling my name.  I cannot wait to indulge and stuff myself silly.

In honor of my sushi dinner right around the corner, I just added this super cute Japanese-inspired collection from K.Bell that we recently received:

Colorful Fans, Geisha Girl, & Fighting Ninjas

Aren’t these fun?  I cannot decide between the geisha and fans.  Both are so striking!

People are pretty hit or miss with sushi.  What’s your take?  Love it or hate it?

 

Oh, hello there.

This past month has been a complete blur and I pretty much fell off the face of the blogosphere.  Christmas at The Sock Drawer was bustling and filled with all of my favorite customers.   All was great until I got incredibly sick and actually had to stay home during my beloved holiday season for nearly two weeks.  (Did you know that a simple common cold when you are pregnant is much harder to fight off?  I had my first ear infection in, oh, twenty five years…)  Fast forward to today:

I am now 37 weeks pregnant and in complete nesting mode.  Beau had to grab me by the shoulders last night in the middle of a massive kitchen scrub session and tell me to go to sleep.  Can’t.stop.cleaning.

I will try and get a few more posts up before this little guy makes his debut in between pre-natal and chiropractor appointments, scrubbing tile grout, and organizing drawers.

The Sock Drawer online shop is officially closed through the holidays!  We hope to open the first week in January after the Christmas chaos settles.  We will keep you posted on the official date.

I don’t know that I will have an opportunity to come up for air between now and Christmas (life gets a little nuts when you own a retail shop during the holidays) — so I wish you and yours a very Merry Christmas!

—-

Meanwhile, The Sock Drawer in downtown SLO will be open from 10:00am to 8:00pm Monday-Friday this week.  Saturday, Christmas Eve we will be open from 9:00am-3:00ish??  Hope you will come down and see us for all those last minute stocking stuffers!

…To inform you that The Sock Drawer’s online shop will be closing for the holidays staring this Monday, 12/19.  That makes this weekend your final chance to pick up those last minute gifts for everyone on your list.

A few of our favorites this season:

Snow Day by Smartwool.

A festive winter sock in non-traditional colors.  Warm and toasty plus a cushioned footbed thanks to a 70% wool blend that’s guaranteed not to itch.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bea by B.ella

A fabulous wool, cashmere, and angora blend that is both stylish and warm.

(Hint: did you know Moms love cashmere??)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Queen of the Roses by Betsey Johnson

Quaint, funky roses by the queen of fashion herself.  Lightweight, soft to the touch, great for the teenager and twenty-something on your list.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Birdwatching Cat by K.Bell

Because everyone knows a cat lover.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mountain Climber by Ozone

Bring the beautiful, snowy outdoors to their wardrobe.  Stunning, unique, and obviously a conversation starter.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Boot Knife for men, by Ozone

The ultimate sock for your brother or zany uncle.  Guys just find this sock hilarious.  Sitting in a business meeting?  Why let me show you my knife.  Headed to a formal event?  Check this out!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Last but not least, a re-cap on our adorable sock monkey ornament.  This has become one of our signature Christmas items in the SLO store.  Tried and true, the sock monkey is a classic and so cute as a ornament dressed as Santa.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our first online holiday season has been a delight.  Thank you so much for being a part of it!  In the meantime, if we can help out with your shopping in any way or answer any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us: info@sockdrawer.com

If you live in the SLO area, we are open all of next through Christmas Eve!  Closing time on the 24th still TBD (I am completely baffled about Christmas Eve falling on a Saturday…  ::scratches head::.  I will keep you posted!)

 

pic via

 

I know this has been floating out in blog land and you have probably already seen it for awhile.  This is my take – fighting off a cold during the middle of my busiest season at work while 32 weeks pregnant version:

 

right now i am…

watching: The Office, Parks & Recreation, Modern Family.  Just finished watching an episode of Sesame Street with Sawyer so I could lie down on the couch

eating:  lots of soup, sorbet, and throat lozenges like they are going out of style

drinking:  water, grande-soy-no-water-chai

wearing: what feels like one of five outfits I can manage to pull together these days.  Maternity sweater and pants from The Gap, Smartwool shirt that is magically long enough for full belly coverage, compression socks (so festive!), and a scarf from my shop

avoiding:  Christmas shopping.  I do this every year – I am that crazy person rushing around the last few days before Christmas trying to get it all together.  I get sucked in so deep at work making sure we are set for all the sock-buying customers, I am forced to scramble at the end.

feeling:  like my throat is on fire.

missing:  sushi, wine, Lagunitas

thankful: for all of my customers!  Between my regulars and those who make an annual Christmas trek, I love seeing them all this time of year and catching up.

weather: mid 60′s with the tiiiiniest bit of rain today

needing:  sleep.  desperately.

thinking: only one more hour and then I can go to sleep.  one.more.hour!!!!!

loving: the feeling of this baby move around.  Such a surreal, special time.

Being pregnant during the holidays is very challenging.  I have a perma-desire for all things sugar, all the time and there are just so many yummy treats everywhere I go.  (Don’t even get me started on Trader Joes!)  Inhibition flew out the window months ago.

So of course, I decided to torture myself and bake some cookies so that I would have loads of buttery goodness right at my fingertips.  Silly Brooke

I present to you: Gingerbread Cookies

(okay, so as a collective whole, we ate all the cookies before I could snap a picture.  I am sorry!!)

 

Ingredients:
4 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp. salt
1½ tsp. baking powder
½ tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
1½ tsp. ground cloves
2 tsp. ground ginger
1 tsp. ground nutmeg
16 tbsp. unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 cup sugar
1 cup molasses
1 large egg

Directions:
In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, salt, baking powder, baking soda and spices to combine; set aside.

In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream together the butter and sugar on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes.  Mix in the molasses and egg until combined.  Add in the dry ingredients and mix just until incorporated.  Cover the bowl and chill the dough for at least one hour.

Preheat the oven to 350° F.  Line baking sheets with parchment paper.  Roll the dough out on a lightly floured work surface to about ¼-inch thickness.  Cut into desired shapes with cookie cutters.  Place the cookie shapes onto the prepared baking sheets, about 2 inches apart.  Bake for 10 minutes, rotating the pans halfway through baking.  Remove from the oven and let cool on the baking sheets for 10 minutes.  Transfer to a wire cooling rack and let cool completely.  Decorate as desired.

recipe courtesy of Annie’s Eats (love her blog!)

 

We recently had a wonderful visit with Beau’s sister and her family.  Sawyer got to play with his cousins, Grace and Clare which is always such a treat!  They absolutely adore him, and he is equally as fond of both of them.  There was puddle jumping, feeding goats, an introduction to Skippyjon Jones, and of course lots of tickling and hugs.

 

Grace and Clare are also really big sock fans.  They are part of my Bay Area street team.  So naturally, they always have to make a stop at The Sock Drawer to stock up on the latest and greatest.

Thank you guys for making the trek to come see us – we love you!

I couldn’t resist showcasing this adorable Sock Monkey Ornament we have available for Christmas.  He is just the cutest.  I have had one on our tree for years now and he makes me smile every time I hang him up.

Although this year, he spends quite a bit of time off the tree because a certain 2 year really likes him too…

With that said, I can assure you, it makes a great gift for all ages!