A little backstory: in college, we were all quite poor and had not yet refined our tastes in things like nice alcohol, including wine. So on the weekends, Alex and his friends would usually go purchase a couple cases of beer, maybe a handle of $15 vodka, and a huge jug of Carlo Rossi for those of us (read: me) who hated beer with every fiber in their body. I consider Carlo Rossi to be one step up from boxed wines like Franzia, since alcohol encased in cardboard is not the classiest thing in the world (though on my last trip to the grocery store I discovered that Carlo now comes in boxes as well...hmm). Anyhoodle, over time, the habit of buying jugs of Carlo turned into somewhat of an obsession, since it's what, twelve dollars for the whole thing? A bargain! Fables and tales and LEGENDS were spun about the mysterious Signor Rossi and as a result, he secured a coveted place deep in all of our hearts.
Fast-forward up to last week. I had absolutely no idea what to get Alex for his birthday. I mean, the guy got me an iPhone for mine, so how was I supposed to compete with that?! I bought him some little stuff he really needed that I knew he'd never get around to purchasing himself (socks for work and plastic hangers, SWEET!). I also ordered him a subscription to National Geographic Adventure magazine. It's really cool if you're the outdoorsy type--check it out. For real. I almost bought myself a subscription too.
But I still felt like that was pretty lame for the first birthday of your mid-twenties. Then, on Thursday, I had an Epiphany. Our love for Carlo Rossi has not died since we graduated from college (though I do tend to buy more "normal" bottles of wine now, if only because Rossi-induced hangovers are the PITS). I remembered once visiting the Carlo Rossi website and looking at pictures of the things they had made out of empty jugs...everything from couches to tables to stereo speakers to chandeliers. Well, I consider myself a fairly crafty person, so I thought, Why not! Why not make something out of an empty jug of Rossi! So I DID.
On Friday night, my roommate Rose came home to find me drunk as a skunk and in the middle of baking MORE pumpkin and chocolate chip muffins (we were having guests that weekend and I needed something to serve them...and when I get drunk, I want food. Don't judge me). It was probably pretty funny, since I had spilled flour all over the kitchen floor and in my attempt to wipe it up and then scratch my nose, resembled Scarface a little too much.
But I convinced Rose to join the bandwagon, and we made a considerable dent in the jug of Carlo Rossi I had purchased earlier that day. The post-homecoming party we had at our apartment on Saturday night finished off that delicious ol' jug. On Sunday, after washing and drying everything, I turned it into THIS:
Fabulous, no? I filled the jug with glass marbles from Hobby Lobby (to resemble the wine that once lived there and also reflect the light in pretty ways). The lampshade and electric bits were purchased from Lowe's and screwed directly into the original jug's cap, though it's a bit wobbly and I may need to find something a little sturdier. Nevertheless, LOOK HOW AMAZING THAT IS!!! Can you handle it?! I cannot. I presented the lamp in all of its glory to Alex last night, since he was in town to represent his company at a Denison career fair. I don't think he actually cried from happiness, but he was certainly close. I could see the tears of joy welling up in his eyes. If he ever reads my blog, he can feel free to leave a nice comment describing his new-found passion for this amazing creation (HINT HINT), but sadly he has a Real Job and doesn't have a lot of time to indulge in my ramblings.
Regardless, I think this is probably the best birthday present I have ever given, since (1) it is crafted by moi, and like my Momma always says, homemade gifts are the best kind of gifts; and (2) it is thoughtful and actually means something to The Boy. And the kiss I received after giving it to him was pretty darn good too.
4 comments:
margo my dear that is quite superb and i love it and i bet alex does too. you can make me one out of a patron bottle for my birthday if you want? haha. i kid, i kid. :)
My dear, do not joke about such things! I'll definitely make you one. Maybe it is my calling in life to be a lamp-maker. I will walk down the street and people will say, "There goes Margo the Lamp Maker." And I will be famous! And then I can finally start my own stationary-and-other-cute-things shop.
Margo!! That is amazing. It is both classy and trashy at the same time, how do you beat that?! I'm so glad we could all contribute in our own little way to it's existence via Homecoming drinkage. I am truly impressed, my dear.
Oh that is absolutely fab!
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