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Holiday in the Box

   Holiday shopping…you can either love it or hate it. Either way you look at it, it has to be done. It’s kind of like cleaning your toilet. Hopefully you can enjoy shopping a little bit more (if you don’t, you may have some serious issues!). Anyway, while many of us can wrap up those gifts and put them under the tree to await the big day, others have to ship them out to family and friends.
   Of course before you send them out to the post office, you have to play Santa and box up those bargains to get them to that special someone. Honestly, sometimes it can be a pain. What’s the sense of spending all that time and money picking out a gift only to be careless and ship it in a hurry for it to get ruined? I’m sure the person getting the gift wouldn’t be too happy either. Who wants to be unhappy on Christmas? We all know the answer to that one.  If you really want to play the role of one of Santa’s elves, you know those packages need a little TLC before they get to that special someone. So don’t act in haste because it would be a really waste this holiday season!

Buying a Luxury Tree Without Going Broke

   We all know the holiday season can get hectic and definitely expensive. There’s the shopping and of course the decorating. While we may love our house to look like it came out of some style magazine, achieving that swanky goal could make you go broke, especially if you like a luxury tree. But, just with anything, it doesn’t have to be that way, if you know how to shop around for a good deal.  I’m sure even Santa looks for a good bargain every now and again!
  Whether you buy a real or artificial tree, I think a lot of people get caught up with having the perfect one. But, perfection doesn’t have to come with a price tag that would make Rudoplh’s nose turn a brighter shade of red. I think any tree you pick out and decorate with your family is the perfect one, even if it wouldn’t get the Martha Stewart seal of approval. I know a lot of people who spend a lot of money to get that luxury look, when in all reality it looks anything but because they’ve tried too hard. When it comes to decorating for the holidays, you want to make it something unque and memorable, not something that made you go break the bank!

Why I Love a Real Christmas Tree

   It’s the age old debate when it comes to picking out a Christmas tree. Real or fake? Growing up, we always had a fake one because my Mom said the pine needles the real tree left behind were a real pain to clean up when all was said and done. But, you can’t beat the smell of a real tree. In my opinion, nothing says, or in this case, smells like Christmas , than a real tree.
   Don’t get me wrong, those real trees do leave a mess behind. Mama was right there! Although I end up cleaning pine needles until the Fourth of July, it’s all worth it to me. I love going to the garden center or farm to find the “perfect tree.”  I love trying to tie it to the roof or jam it in the truck to bring it home. I love dragging it in and arguing with my husband about whether it’s straight in the stand. No matter how hard we try, it is honestly never straight no matter what he says! I even love watching the needles fall as we countdown to Christmas Day. To me, it wouldn’t be the holiday season without it!

Would You Buy a Pre-Lit Tree?

    I have to say one of the most annoying parts of decorating the Christmas tree is stringing the lights. It seems like no matter how many times you test the lights before hanging them, a bulb always seems to go out and sometimes that means the whole strand has lost its Christmas cheer. It’s like the Grinch is playing some kind of trick or something. Then there’s always the job of untangling them because someone was careless putting them away the year before. Do these things ever happen to you or is it just me?
   I know a lot of people who don’t have these problems because they invest in those handy dandy pre-lit trees. The best part is that you don’t have to worry about hanging the lights because it’s already done for you. Score one! If one light goes out, chances are the whole string won’t go out too. Score two! Some may say it’s the lazy man or woman’s tree. But, in all honesty, it may be the smarter tree. What’s better than just putting the tree together, plugging it in, and then decorating it? While I’ve never gone this route, it kinda has me thinking this could be the way to go to deck the halls without the aggravation (or arguments with the hubby!).

Is it Time to Deck the Halls Already?

   I can’t believe it’s almost that time of year again to deck the halls. It’s seems like just yesterday I was packing up all the ornaments and lights and shipping them down the basement. Now, here we go again! It’s amazing how fast time really does fly, ya know?
   Of course, it wouldn’t be Christmas without a tree. It really is the centerpiece of all the holiday decorating. After all, Santa does need a good place to leave all the presents! So, it’s only fitting that one of the most exciting parts about decorating for Christmas is picking out a tree. But, if you think all trees are created equal, think again. Whether you choose an artificial or real tree, they really do come in all shapes and sizes and with all different kinds of price tags too! 
    If you take the artificial route, the main thing to consider is the size. You don’t want to run the risk of looking cramped or tacky. While your eyes may want the seven footer, your ceiling may only be able to handle five feet of Christmas cheer! ‘Tis the season to be jolly, so happy shopping and decorating!

It’s in the Bag!


   I’ll admit it. I love bags and pocketbooks. In fact, I don’t think I’ve ever met one that I don’t like. As a woman, we have so many to choose from. Thank God! There are the hobo bags, the totes, the clutches, the travel bags…I could go on and on. There’s no doubt there are plenty of women out there who share my affection for a good bag. But, these days, guys are also getting into the bag bonanza. In fact, some bags out there for them to choose from are just as nice as the ones we have. Score one for equality!
   While we tend to throw just about everything into our bags, I’ve noticed the guys bags are a little more disciplined, if you know what I mean. They tend to have specific purposes when it comes to their bags. There are document bags, briefcases, work bags, and totes. The list really does go on and on for them too. In case you’re keeping track, that’s score two for equality!
   I really hope guys get on the “bag bandwagon” because they really don’t know what they’re missing! Women have been doing it for so long, now it’s time for guys to find that “perfect bag”.

Time to “Tie” One On!


   As a woman, we have so many accessories to choose from when we get dressed. Of course we have our necklaces, earrings, and bracelets. Don’t forget the scarves, hats, and pins, just to name a few. But, what do guys have? Honestly, not much. They put on a pair of pants, a shirt, socks and shoes, and are usually out the door. They don’t have a lot of stuff to help them accessorize. There’s not much there to show your creative side or style. That’s one of the many reasons I’m glad I’m a woman! 
    If you think about it, the tie is really the only thing they can pick out to help spice up a special outfit. I actually like to go tie shopping with my husband because sometimes there really are a lot of different ones to choose from. Of course you have your standards solids and stripes, but there are also some really fun ones out there too. There are even ones to go with the holidays or that special occasion. 
   You’ve probably heard the saying “clothes make the man.” I think the same can be said for a tie. So, maybe it’s one to “tie” one on with your man!

Real Men Carry Wallets


   I remember when I was growing up, wallets were always at the top of the list when I had to buy a gift for my Dad. It was the one gift that was always practical and useful. For some reason it always seemed as though my Dad needed a new wallet every time a holiday rolled around.
   These days, not much has changed. As an adult, I still buy my Dad a new wallet every now and again. But, now I can add my husband to the list too. Besides there being another person to shop for, there is something else that has changed too. Over the past few decades there are so many more wallets to choose from. Just like with everything else, they are also much more stylish than they were back in the day. So, there really is something for everyone. Wallets don’t only have a practical purpose.  It also seems like they’ve become more of an accessoryand fashion piece than just something to put your money and credit cards in.
  But, what if the special guy in your life doesn’t carry a wallet? Hmmm. Some people say you better make sure they have some money!

Men are "Watching" Fashion

 I remember back in the day, I didn’t know a lot of guys who were into fashion or designer duds. These days it seems like some men are more into accessories than some ladies that I know. Maybe it’s a designer revolution or maybe guys are just making themselves priority number one and spending more money on themselves these days than they are on their women. Whatever the case, there are plenty of things to dish out your dough on everything from watches to hats, scarves, and sunglasses. Just like with everything else, there’s something for every kind of guy.

   A lot of these watches are really stylish, but they don’t exactly come cheap! But, you only live once, so I guess it’s a good idea to splurge every now and again. If your man is one of those who won’t splurge on himself, maybe it could be a good gift too (as long as he is reciprocating!). The holidays are coming and sometimes it’s nice to get one really nice gift than a lot of other small ones. At least a watch is something that will get used every day, unlike some other type of expensive gift. So, maybe there’s there’s no “time” like the present to check them out.


   
   

Make a Date with a Photo Calendar

   As a Mom, you’re probably the one who keeps everything in your house organized. From doctor’s appointments to play dates to haircuts, it seems like there’s always something going on. I used to be really good at keeping all the dates and times in one of those pocket calendars. But, ever since I became a stay-at-home mom, I have to admit that planner isn’t doing much for me these days. It sees the bottom of the diaper bag more than it sees my pen. So, I’ve been relying more on my regular calendar.
   Sure, there are plenty to choose from in the stores, but some of the themes are just plain old dumb. So, instead of seeing a generic picture of a flower or animal, it would be nicer to see a picture of one of my kids or a great family snapshot. Wouldn’t you agree?  Personalized photo calendars are a cool way to go if you want to change it up a bit. Those photo calendars might even make great birthday gifts for the grandparents. What grandma or grandpa doesn’t gush over pictures of their grandkids? This way they not only get to see pictures of the kids, but also get something they can actually use. Perhaps it’s time to pencil in some time to get that calendar made!