ready

Cards...check.
Presents, bought, wrapped, stashed...check.
Cookies...check.
Tree, wreaths, lights, snowglobes...checks.
Christmas eve singer's dress...check.
Christmas morning casserole in the freezer...check.
Carrots for the reindeer...on the grocery list.
NORAD Santa...queued up.

Merry...very.

Mr. Melty is by The Decorated Cookie

Mr. Melty reminds me of a melted snowman Lucia made in preschool that was basically waxed paper with stickers on it, that I still get out every year for decoration, and to which I look longingly when I'm tired of the snow, post-Christmas. Only Mr. Melty is edible, which makes him fabulous.

I'm going to try making him this year. But I want you to know, I didn't come up with the idea. This brilliant person did and she deserves credit for it.

happy thanksgiving.

frazzle's gift guide.... for frazzle

Hey, mamas and silly blog writers have needs too. Here's what I want for Christmas, in case anyone is wondering:

1. A new purple thing. What's a purple thing? Only the loveliest velvet covered rice, lavender and clove wrap that you can heat up and soothe all your aches and pains, of which I have many. I have one of these and I wore it out. Don't you think I deserve a new one? It comes in red and green as well - take your pick. Also, it comes in a lovely carrying case, suitable for gifting. A little under $40 on Amazon.


2. Harry Potter years 1-6 widescreen gift set. Yes, I'm a Harry Potter nerd, big time. I'm counting down the days for the new movie (8 to go!) I've lost count of how many times I've read the entire series, I read the crappy fan fiction, I listen to Mugglecast religiously. I love it all. Can you blame me? My husband looks like he could be Dan Radcliffe's long lost American dad. Or... erm, young and virile older brother. That's it. The point is, I can't get enough of all things Potter and it's high time I owned some filmage, don't you think? About $50 on Amazon. You can also get the Ultimate Editions for around $30 a piece if you really, really love me. Hey, tickets to the theme park would make a great stocking stuffer too.

3. Just about anything from Partners for Just Trade. This lovely group helps support artists living in extreme poverty by selling their wonderful creations to privileged people like us. I especially like the Tree of Life and all the little nativities. Great kid stuff too!



4. Peace and love to all the children of the world. And a pony.

for Melanie.

progress

Ok, so it's November now. Here are all the things I was supposed to do in October, whilst handling a great big board meeting and shepherding Darth Vader through the neighborhood to troll for free candy:

"Finish our gift list" - done, refer to aforementioned "I have a new niece!" post. Woo, this is easy!

"Write and address Christmas cards and family letter" - Well, I'm still working on this, but it's mostly done. I even have stamps - thank you post office! I take back all the mean things I said about you, really! Oh and lovely Shutterfly address labels. I still need to print out copies of Darth Vader's picture from her Munchkinland days to go in the cards though. Want to see it? Here you go.

Darth is looking very chipper for the holidays, no? "Tin Man, I am your father. Search your heart, you know it to be true. Oh wait, you don't have a heart...my bad."

Regarding the dreaded family letter: I'm saving my annual rant on such nonsense for when I start getting some in the mail from others. I'm sure it will be jolly fun after this latest travesty of an election. Stay tuned!

"Schedule our Christmas shopping days" and "Start our gift shopping" - Ha, "schedule." And "start" - snort. I am so ahead of the curve here. One trip to Toys R Us and one Amazon visit and I'm pretty much done. Booyah! Well, with Lucia's gifts. Still. Also, I'm stashing all gifts over at my parents' house, just down the road from my workplace so I can head over there on my lunch breaks to wrap one or two at my kid-free leisure. Aren't I brilliant? Yes, yes I am.

"Purchase Christmas outfits" - I have a little plan here. Christmas this year with my extended family is likely going to be actually Christmas eve, and Christmas day we're going to be on our own to enjoy our presents, breakfast casseroles, and Kahlua laced beverages all damn day in the comfort of our homes. It's like a Christmas dream come true. I'm considering how well it will go over if I just insist on this plan every year, I love it so much. So anyway, Christmas outfits? One word: pajamas. And maybe this will be a surprise St. Lucia Day gift from me to my peeps so we have them early. See the "Very Merry Mommy" icon on my blog? 'Twill be emblazoned upon my lazy bod from 12/24 through probably the 26th or later. Can't. Wait. Also, I got my husband The Perfect Shirt to wear with his already fabulous flannel Santa jammy pants that he breaks out every December. Now what to get the kid? I'm waiting for Old Navy to come out with some swanky holiday kid gear... Star Wars jammies at Target are also a possibility (noting they only come in boys = reedonkuluss.)

"Begin Christmas baking" - Um, yeah. Well I made that chocolate ginger dough... and bought lots of chocolate, sugar, and butter. I guess I need to get busy on this now. Oh! stashed an extra pumpkin pie french toast casserole in the freezer - the verdict from the family on the first try is "maybe bake it according to the recipe next time so it's not such a soggy mess." Duly noted.

"Decorate outside and inside" - Well, I mean, it's only November. Perhaps I could take down the Halloween decorations though.. hmm. We do have a grand tradition in our household though: remember Lock, Stock, and Barrel from Nightmare Before Christmas? No? They were the little trick or treating ghoul kids from Halloween world. I bought little plastic figures of them when the movie first came out and now we get them out every Halloween and leave them up through Christmas. So see, I'm halfway there.

So, ok, on to the next list:
"Finish our gift shopping
Mail Christmas cards
Finish our holiday pre-making and pre-baking
Wrap and mail presents
Finish shopping for any remaining items on our Buy List
Enjoy our family."

I like that last item best.

to: santa@northpole.com

Dear Santa,

What I want for Christmas is:

1) Star Wars Lego Imperial Walker, and Star Destroyer
2) Pokemon cards (mostly Tertwig)
3) Zoobles
4) Squinkies
5) DS games - Star Wars (and light saber DS stylus)

I hope you have a safe trip around the world! Thanks!

From, Lucia