Whoring My Gifts

At a request from That Chick Over There, I'm here to "Whore My Gifts". I actually prefer to give gifts than to receive them nowadays - I must be getting old - but it is always lovely to get gifts that are really special because of (a) who gave them, (b) the thought they put in to it, regardless of what they spent, and (c) let's be honest, how great the gift is!


I'd also like to remind everyone this is a great time of year for giving back to the less fortunate. Listing all the wonderful things I received was great, but I also enjoy the fact that as usual, my hubby and I picked a couple of charities to share our good fortune.

That being said, on with the Whoring!

My top 10 gifts for this year:

1. Diamond earrings from my hubby. Very delicate and pretty - I love them.
   
   


2. A fleece wrap/cape. This came from my in laws. She thought of my extensive travel and thought it was perfect for those cold flights...I love it!
   


3. Books - lovely books, and more books! Some used, some new, all full of wonderful new stories for me to read. People who give me books are my favorites in the world! My mom and my aunt added to our leatherbound collection and found us Robinson Crusoe and Wuthering Heights. They look so elegant on a bookshelf and I love to read (or re-read) the classics.
   

4. CDs. My hubby sometimes despairs at my "uncool" music collection, which has included such diverse and uncool artists as George Michael, Barry Manilow, the Commidores, and N'Sync. He continues my musical education with Janis Joplin's greatest hits but he also allowed me my little guilty pleasure of some pop music with the Five for Fighting live album.
   


5. Broadway! My sister and brother-in-law spent way too much and got us a gift certificate from http://www.broadway.com/ for 2 tickets to a show. As if that wasn't enough, it came in a basket with gourmet chocolates, a book on home brewing (for hubby), and two bottles of wine too! Spamalot here we come!
   


6. Digital Photo Frame. This also came from the in-laws - something we've been eyeing for a while, and now we're hooked up!


7. Candles and Giftware. I love scented and pretty candles/candleholders and got a couple of these. We also received a pressed wine bottle cheese tray, some ornaments, and pretty photo frames. All of these things continue to enhance (and my hubby says crowd) our little cottage home. I love them.
   



8. A Fossil Watch. I am notorious about cheating myself in the watch area -- I cheap out and get the $7 watches at Target all the time. My staff thought I deserved something special so they got me a lovely Fossil watch from Macy's. The gift was appreciated even more because they all got together to pick it out. Sweet!
   


9. Greeting Cards (with Photos!). One of my favorite things to receive are greeting cards with family and kid photos included. It allows me to see the smiling faces of so many people I love. More than anything, I enjoy hearing from (and seeing!) my favorite people at this time of year.
   


10. The Christmas Bonus! Each year I count my blessings that I work for a company that still gives out bonuses each year. As a manager I get a percentage in December and the remainder after the books are closed in April. This is never something I take for granted and is always much appreciated. {Photo representational only - don't think this was the actual amount!}

That's about it - hope you all received as many lovely things as I did this year.

A Favorite Christmas Moment - Bowie Meets Crosby

A Proud Purple Stork Customer

After seeing positive comments from That Chick and A's Mom about Purple Stork, I became a proud customer today as well. This was the easiest transaction with a design/print house I have ever experienced!

After struggling with my annual holiday newsletter - I realized it was SOOOOO BOOORRRRIIINNNGGGG! So I sent a desperate note to Purple Stork and less than 24 hours later I had 4 designs to choose from.



These were the two finalists...I picked #2, but I liked them both.






I highly recommend this company for all your greeting card needs!

Seeking That Christmas Spirit

I'm notorious for being out of sync with the Christmas spirit. I usually get in the mood for Christmas in...um...February. It seems I've been in a battle with the calendar for most of my life. I hate prescribed days of celebration. I want to celebrate, when I WANT to celebrate. Not because some president declared it a national holiday, or because someone decided that Jesus was born on December 25 (highly doubtful FYI), or a Hallmark exec wanted a reason to sell cards and stupid candy gifts on February 14. I even hate my birthday - although I do allow my mom to celebrate it cuz, hey, she went through the labor and all that.

So this year, for the first time in several, I gathered up my energy, heaved a deep sigh, and dug out the christmas decorations. We even bought a tree (which by the way, was an environmental battle in my head, but since the damn trees are already cut down it's not like I could save it or anything). Sorry Al (Gore), but you know, since your mansion is still burning the fuel oil etc., I guess you can give me a pass on the Christmas tree.

Although my photos cannot rival the extraordinary beauty of those on 60 piggies (really you have to stop right now and go see some of her recent photos!) this is the result of my dogged determination to get some Christmas spirit BEFORE December 24/25.

A little winter wonderland on my windowsill.

Some fresh greens and holly branches on my mantle.
(note to self, when trimming greens and lights are in place,
don't cut the wire with the branch...can result in small electrical surge...)

O Christmas Tree...O Christmas Tree...You're A Little Short This Year
(but better than years where we went a little too tall!)

A pretty ornament...or 2 or 3....

My Aunt made this one for me - from an actual chicken egg!

Another Aunt gave us this crafty thing last year...I actually love it. Brings a little Cape Cod to our home in the Hudson Valley.

Hubby's favorite decoration is our snow globe (other than his "Herbie the Dentist" ornament)

C.K. Dexter Haven enjoying my "Wonderful Life" village scene and looking for Jimmy Stewart.

This litle figure was one of the few decorations my Nana was able to keep in her little room at the adult care facility. I gave it to her years ago. Something in my non-Christmas spirit, non-religious soul was always touched by the scene of Santa visiting the baby in the manger. When she passed away, I took it from her room and I do enjoy seeing it every few years when I get the notion to decorate.

So for all of you, like me, who are looking for the Christmas spirit - hope this put you in the mood. For those of you who do not celebrate Christmas...hopefully these pretty pictures brighten up the shortest day of the year and give you a good winter solstice.