Still looking for that perfect gift for that special person. Here’s a couple of ideas for ya’.

Mouse bookmark. For the reader who likes to read in bed, this little guy could cause a stir if he gets lost in the covers.

Egg cozies. Because. Clearly I’ve been missing a very important step in egg preparation.

Wine cozies. Now we’re talking.

Pencil burrito.  Not so practical for the student who constantly thinks about food.

Well. Seriously, who doesn’t need a kitty to spit out some toothpaste?

Silly socks. Always a hit.

Loafers. Tee, hee.

Fingerless handerpants. They can only really be complete if accompanied by trouser mittens.

Cup pups. Never have to drink alone.

A rock in a leather pouch. I don’t know why anyone might need this but it sells at Neiman Marcus for $85.

Dual purpose cup. A cup with a snack holder. Well, it’s about time!

TP dispenser. A picture is worth a thousand wipes.

Money tree seeds. Really only works if you have oil soil. But hey, one can dream!

Been feeling a little blue?

December can be an overwhelming month. It marks the end of the year, it is a time many people are wrapping up much more than presents. They are wrapping up business contracts, trying to complete a tax year, and meet business as well as personal deadlines. It’s not uncommon to experience anxiety and doubt.

The coordination of cards, gifts, dinners, parties, decorating, finances, cooking, cleaning, travel arrangements, real and self-imposed priorities, mailing dates, shopping, traditions, hopes, and past memories can wreak havoc on your psyche.

It’s a delicate interpretive dance.

No wonder it brings out the Grinch!

If you’re singin’ the blues… Wail. Out loud. Take a moment and feel. Tap your toe and meet the exhilaration of energy building with your inner voice. Block out the external noise — the screeching and pounding of hype, frenzy, and exhaustion.

There’s a lot to take in this time of year.

Today, I look within and my heart whispers. Simplicity.

Today is a good day to feast on those 12 chocolates that got missed…

It’s a great day for hot cocoa! Cheers to staying warm on this Day *7

Whether an avid list maker or list hater, this is about the time of year that brings out the list maker in most of us.

I just conquered a flurry of colorful post-its spread across my desk and cleaned through notes on my phone. How to know when it’s time to do this:

1. Couldn’t find a damn thing.
2. See #1.

I’m a list maker.

Also, as a writer of fiction, I love this meme. **giggles**  

Ever fall into that to-do loop? Mind clutter. Writing lists relieves that noise until desk clutter takes over.

The crumpling and deleting of completed things is my favorite part. Life simplifies.  

Lists don’t replace thinking though.   

And it’s nice to be on certain ones. 

 Some peeps just don’t go there.   

Groceries, gifts, parties, planning, calls, meetings, life’s necessities, and on and on and on…

Behind Day #5: Christmas cards

A little questionnaire for you including my answers because I suppose I should play along:

Do you hand-make your cards?

I used to because I wanted to include photos of our family and the cool design online options weren’t around yet. (The following examples are not my creations, totally off Google. I’d have to find one of my own and photograph it! Mine always had at least one photograph, but dang these are adorable.)

Do you order online with those companies that let you design your own layout and use your own photos?

I have done this – and it makes the process so much easier.

Do you buy ready-made cards?

Yes. This year’s cards are store-bought – from last year that never made it out. **smirk**

Do you write sentiments in each one or do you have a standard signature for cards?

My husband and I have a process. We start by pouring wine. We pull out our list and split according by his friends and family and mine. Then we write personalized sentiments in each card. It’s time-consuming but that’s how we roll.

Do you address by hand, have address stickers or send through printer?

We pretty much address by hand. When return address labels are available we use them. I’ve never gotten around to entering the Christmas list into the computer but I’ve received cards from people who print and they look great. Since we hand-write within each card, we just press forward and hand-write on the envelopes too.

Would you say your cards get there “on time”?

Define “on time”.

Some people think they should arrive as soon as Thanksgiving is over for early December delivery. I did that the year  I had some beautiful cards made along with family photos we had done professionally. There was no place to hand-write a sentiment. So I stuffed envelopes, got some help addressing, and sent them out. The gorgeous cards spoke for themselves, but it was a bit of an assembly line and wasn’t fulfilling.

Our whole family has winter birthdays. When our kids were young things got pretty nutty once Halloween hit.  Since I was into making cards at that time of our life I decided they’d be “New Year cards” and I’d work on them during the week between Christmas and New Year. I loved it. Most people loved it and didn’t care. Some people never understood why the “Christmas card” showed up after Christmas even though it said Happy New Year. **sigh**

Do you think cards are still important even though we have so many ways to wish each other Happy Holidays?

I’ve had my moments of feeling they aren’t as essential. Christmas cards were often a special treat to get from those people you didn’t get to hear from any other time of year. Although there are a lot of online ways to communicate, there are still people who don’t engage electronically.  There’s something to getting a special card in the mail and placing it somewhere to see. So this year, my answer is “Yes”.

Woke up this morning well-rested but with a mind full of to-dos. I started ticking off the list wondering if I’d have time to stop in to a local craft fair and friend’s open house. So naturally, I got on Facebook. Okay, some info I wanted was there, but you know how it is.

One thing lead to another —  watching a tiny puppy and enormous dog cuddle up and become friends, sharing a humorous post about “the ease”of repurposing “almost free” furniture (one of my passions and so hilariously close to home) and reading two genuinely interesting articles that I’m glad I didn’t miss.

Something I’m super happy I caught and my inspiration for today. This beautiful piece by Ludovico Einaudi. It was posted by one of my favorite people ever and reminds me to calm, find peace and the rest will fall into place.

Happy 3rd day of December. Inhale big, exhale slow and enjoy this moment.