Shhh....... My Holiday Gift Shopping Finds!

I love shopping for gifts. Finding the right thing for each person. It's a passion and dare say an art of mine. Not that all my gifts are received with the same joy as they were picked out, but I try.

I'm pretty close to done with the Holiday shopping. I say Holiday because Jeff's family celebrates Chanukah and my family Christmas. This year Chanukah is early - starting on December 1st. So I had to get a move on!

I like to shop locally (and USA produced) when I can. I make a concerted effort. I buy from the toy store and book store downtown. HOWEVER some of the things I need, aren't to be found in my little village. Enter Amazon Prime. Did you know if you sign up for Amazon Prime (free two day shipping on any product that is fulfilled by Amazon) and cancel after 30 days - there is no annual fee? AND that if you're a new Mom they have Amazon Mom - free for 3 months. Let's just say Santa delivered his gifts in two days in some Amazon boxes. Done and done. All while sipping coffee at my computer. Love it!

Next up for my local peeps. Cotton Caboodle Outlet. I've long raved about this little gem of a store. 100% cotton clothing for kids and women. Most everything is under $15. I saw the same shirt that I got there for $15 at my friend's boutique for $50. FIFTY?!! So today I dropped in quickly to grab a specific shirt to go under my planned Thanksgiving ensemble - and what did I find, but some FANTASTIC fun cotton scarfs that screamed 'teacher gifts!' for $12. In regular retail stores they are $27. Mark those babies off the list!

XBox - Kinect Combo pack. 250gb (like I know what this means..)but on Amazon it was priced at $448 - hello Costco for $389! (Online looks like it was priced at $399). Yes this means I'm not getting that purse I'm drooling over - and my husband gets to skip getting 2 sweaters and a button down like every other year. Hopefully the kids will enjoy it and I'll embrace electronics. Website says they're sold out - but maybe they have more coming?! No you can't have mine!

So after you check off those lists - for me it means wrapping and shipping. I never can go wrong with my local UPS guy. I've actually had good luck in general with UPS - but the owner/manager? of my particular location is a superstar. Always SUPER nice. Most everytime I've had a coupon, or gotten a punch card discount. He doesn't get irritated when I can't remember the zip code to Brooklyn NY. And my packages always get there in one piece and on time. (Although I did have to ask him not to use peanuts...). If you're in my hood - give him a whirl! And unlike the post office, they'll tape up your boxes for you - NO extra charge!

Okay friends - do share - what are your favorite finds this season?!

The Art and Joy of the Letter

Anyone one in my near radius this past week probably knows that I just got a big box of 'memorabilia' from my parents who recently cleaned out their storage unit. Sorting through all the stuff in there has been fun and crazy - but one thing stands out. We wrote letters!

I have all kinds of letters! Letters from my friends when I was 11, my camp counselor, letters from my high school boyfriend, and my good friend and subsequent pen pal who joined the military shortly after we graduated, tiny notes asking if I could go to the movie, angry notes about why did someone do such and such during 5th period. I love it.

I forgot how much I LOVE a real letter! Love it. I love when you see your name on an envelope in the mailbox, or find a scrap of paper with a little message just for you. The tangible enjoyment of seeing a friend's handwriting cover a page in words - the time taken specifically for you.

So I'm bringing back the art of the letter. I've decided that over the next year I'm going take the time to write a real live letter when those memories or birthdays or whatever it is presents an opportunity.

Ah the joy of a letter.

What's a better way of saying 'Ball-less'?

This one's going to be lengthy so buckle in.

I had a hard time titling this -but the anger is still fresh, so I'm not at my most eloquent.

Last night after having a whirlwind two days of working on a project with my friend (thanks Jefe for holding down the fort), I went through the mail only to find that someone had 'anonymously' sent my husband a pamphlet from Alcoholics Anonymous. It read something like 'Does your loved one struggle with alcohol dependency..' and so on.

At first I was puzzled and a little dismissive, until some investigation led to the fact that AA does not send out pamphlets unprompted. Someone had to send or ask for it to be sent. WTF.

I feel like I've been kicked in the throat. Seriously. I'm taking this PERSONALLY - and have gone through those stages of grief or acceptance or what not.. but I'm not yet to the laugh about it stage.

First of, yes, it's a given that I enjoy cocktails. Initially I wanted to defend myself, but I don't feel it necessary at this point. Marriage is a partnership and my rarely imbibing husband does not feel that my enjoyment of wine and spirits warrants any AA intervention. And while I have a very loud and direct personality, he is not fooled, nor scared of me and would set me straight.

Second of all - Of course I reflected back to the past couple of weeks just to see if there was anything in there that should alarm someone to the point of anonymous mail. I see a woman who quit her fantastic job to be more available to her family. One who still works very hard at her paying job along with volunteering in her kid's schools, signing up to bring treats and teacher appreciation salads. The one who was up late cutting out the pieces for her daughter's entire class to make 'Spider Hats' with. The one who tries really hard to make her guests feel welcome, and buys their favorite breakfast items and makes sure their sheets and towels are fresh and taken care of. The one who makes meals and does dishes for her family most every night of the week. The one who folds clothes and reads bedtimes stories and talks about what happened at school. The one who tries to make date night a priority for she and her husband. Who makes time to work out so I'll still be the wife someone wants to be seen with. The one who gets a big middle finger in the form of an anonymous pamphlet in the mail. How's that for a thank you?

Yes, I'm angry and extremely hurt (and curious as to how a true alcoholic would be able to pull together all the things that I have to do on a regular day while trashed.) As my8 years clean housekeeping lady said as I headed out the door for 6 miles - 'alcoholics don't run'. She would know.

So I say this out loud to anonymous worried person. Find some balls. Find a voice. Be direct. If you have TRUE concerns for my husband or my family (albeit misdirected) find some character and address it head on like an respectable adult should do.

Tonight I'm going to enjoy a glass of wine with my husband and silently toast all my sisters in arms who work their arses off for their families - and enjoy a glass of wine at the end of that never ending work day. Cheers.