From our House to Yours

We just got home from doing some last minute shopping. Not really for gifts, we got some more food to hibernate on over the weekend. We're planning on having a simple Christmas this year. Instead of us blindly shopping for each other, we decided to have some major girl after-Christmas sales shopping time next week instead. While our friends are fretting over which gadget they want or getting for someone, we are having a stress free Christmas and concentrating instead on what this day really means. So no worries about power tools, or zero tolerance knives, or Wiis, PSP, or iPods or laptops. No anxieties over ugly sweaters and unwanted presents either. Best of all, no major clean up after the gift opening mellee.

I admit, it's unconventional, but for us, at the stage my girls are in now, it works. So when everyone is doing the gift frenzy tomorrow, we will be enjoying a dim sum frenzy instead. No matter how you're celebrating this holiday, I hope it is enjoyable and meaningful for you.

Refuse to be stressed

Stress during the holidays is something that almost seems inevitable. I refuse to succumb to it though. I try to make my holidays as stress free as possible. I may not have the prettiest decorations or the most sumptuous meal but I will be the most sane hostess for the holidays.

This year, I have come to embrace online shopping. I can't believe how stress free it is to simply Google everything you think anyone in your family would need! There are even online coupons and discounts like these aj madison coupons that you can't find elsewhere. The best thing is, I avoid the crowds! I hate crowds and having to fight for parking space. Plus, when you shop online, you can plan farther ahead instead of procrastinating until the night before Christmas like I have done in the past.

In the Spirit of Giving

Christmas has dulled a bit for me partly because it has become so commercialized and people have made it more a matter of materialism than spirit. There are actually a few people I have stopped giving gifts to, not because of anything they had done to me directly, but because I have seen them belittle someone else's gift to them. Of course whenever I've given them anything they had been appropriately appreciative. But who knows what they say behind my back?

So now, I only give when I truly feel like it not because I feel an obligation to. I try to impart this same philosophy to my girls. If someone gives you a gift, you treat it like a gift and in the spirit that it was given. Do not expect gifts now should you feel entitled to receive one. When you give a gift, you give because you want to and you give what you can afford. Do not give expecting a present in return.

Whether you're given a dollar store candy cane, food you're allergic to or something as bizarre as Toto toilets, you don't complain, you receive graciously and gratefully. It is not the gift that matters, it is the spirit that it is given.

Tree for Rent

Speaking of more trees, my sister just told me that they rented a Christmas tree this year. What, never heard of renting a tree before? Neither have I. Apparently, there's a new thing in California (where she lives) where you can adopt a live tree. They will deliver it to your door then when the holidays are over, they will come and pick it up and take it back to their nursery where they will take care of it and feed it until next Christmas. Then when the next holidays come around, they will bring back your same tree to decorate.

The practice not only creates a new tradition, having the tree almost becoming a part of the family year after year, you also save a tree by keeping it from going into the landfill. My sister's daughters, who are normally just all about the toys at Christmas time, could not contain themselves when their tree was delivered. They immediately named her Elana and wanted to dress her up. I think Elana is already a part of the family immediately.

If you are interested in this tree for rent idea, check out their website: http://www.livingchristmas.com/.

Disney Christmas Tree

We love Disney and our Christmas tree is usually decorated with Disney ornaments that we've collected over the years. Some are not even meant as ornaments but actual toys that were favorites when the girls were younger. No, we don't have a 'styled' or 'themed' Christmas tree. Our tree is what we like a memory tree. We use it to display the things that meant something to us over the years. We enjoy looking at the tree and remembering the moments associated with each ornament on display. This is one of the most special things I like about having a tree at Christmas time.

We were thrilled when we received this disney christmas tree from Collectibles Today to review. The girls could not believe our luck! The big box was delivered to our doorstep and they couldn't wait to see what was inside. I wish I could have recorded their squeels and oohs and ahhs when we opened the box! I guess this just proves we don't ever outgrow our love for Disney.

Here, in this tree, are all our favorite characters. The princesses are all there, and you know Mickey and Pooh have got to be there. There's Goofy too and Pluto and the rest of the gang. There are four layers full of detailed figures. The trains circle the tracks to the medley of Christmas tunes making this an excellent addition to our Christmas decorations. It's perfect to kick off the season and put us all in a holiday mood.

The tree is topped by Mickey in his Santa suit riding a sled full of gifts pulled by the reindeers led by Pluto, of course!


Daisy and Donald welcome you to the castle. While the princesses dance below.


All the princesses, Cinderella, the Little Mermaid, Belle from Beauty and the Beast are just among those that circle the tree.




Pooh and friends transport presents on the train...


While the genie, Aladdin and Jasmine follow behind.


We've had this tree up since we got it and every time one of the girls sit next to it to listen to the music, they always find a detail they didn't see before. This tree wakes the wonder of Christmas and brings back so many wonderful memories of the girls growing up and how they grew up with all these unforgettable characters. We love it!



This review is a result of a feedback campaign by Collectibles Today. I was asked to give an honest opinion about the product I received. Good reviews are not incentivized and poor reviews will not be censored for the opinion of the product.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

These are some busy times and we had let some things slide including these blogs, and I'm sure it's the same for everyone too. These are times for spending time with family and loved ones. We've hunkered down with the kids, cooked up some goodies and probably gaining some holiday pounds, but that's ok it's all part of the ritual.

We're a little late in our greetings but heartfelt none the less.

FROM OUR HOUSE TO YOURS, MAY YOUR HOLIDAYS BE WARM AND MAY THE NEW YEAR BRING YOU GOOD FORTUNE AND LOVE

Dare We Start Shopping?

Now that we've rested a while, I we're trying to muster up some energy to go out in the cold and hit the malls. We haven't really done any Christmas decorating nor bought any gifts for anyone. I've been procrastinating with the shopping and now here we are two weeks before Christmas and still nothing is prepared.

The Sears 3 Day Sale started on the fourth and today is the last day (Dec. 4-6). They have a bunch of decorations and gift items that I want to go look at. One is the GE Christmas lights set for $7.99. The lights we have are probably 2-3 years old and they just need to be replaced. I mentioned to the girls that Sears is also having a sale on artificial and already lighted Christmas trees but that didn't go over too well. They still want their real, live Christmas tree. So I guess we'll just buy new lights and maybe new decorations.



Every year, I try to buy a new ornament for each one of them. A couple of years ago, Sears had some Craftsman Christmas ornaments that were just so cute. All their tools in miniature. What could be cooler? This year though I may have to get the full sized ones for my husband. His hand tools are even older than our Christmas lights and they've been slowly conking out on him, one after the other.

Sears has a Craftsman 16-drawer tool storage combo that I think will be perfect for him to store all his tools in. I know he'll love that one but I'll have to see still how the budget is and depending also on which tool I get for him. I know he needs new drills and saws. During this 3-day sale, the Craftsman tool storage is 50% off so I'm hoping the tools are also as deeply discounted. Better get going!

I want their wishes on layaway

Everyone is saying the economy is bad. People are holding on to their money and not spending as much as in previous years. We just aren't feeling as secure that we will still have a steady income in a few months. It particularly sucks that the end of the year is also when most companies have to even out their balance sheets and this is when they implement pay cuts or worst, lay off a portion of their workforce. All of us who are at the mercy of our employer's bottom line are on pins and needles this time of year. When we start hearing of big companies laying of so many percentage of their workforce, I start getting really nervous. I think that's one reason why I always wait until the last minute to shop too.

Sears and other retailers are feeling the anxiety too. I think that's why many of them are bringing back the layaway plan in addition to drastically reduced prices that are available even before black Friday.



The Sears Layaway plan allows you to start picking your gifts ahead of time, put a down payment on them and break up your payments before Christmas. For instance, my daughters has been eyeing some new boots and jacket as soon as the weather started getting cold. I couldn't get it for them at the time they asked for them so I thought maybe I can put it on layaway and surprise them with it for Christmas. My husband, the Craftsman man himself, has been wishing for a new power drill. He has an old Makita that is just reaching its end. He would love for santa to bring him a new power drill.

Normally, I would say lets wait on these until the after Christmas sales. But the way the prices are now and with the layaway plans, I am thinking it's highly doable to grant some wishes this year thanks to Sears and other retailers that are bringing back the practice of layaways.

The Orly Hat

No it really wasn't that cold at our Children's Christmas party at work. The Clone just loves her Orly Hat and has been wearing it since she got it last Friday! She even wore it to bed one night, but I think she got too hot :)

The Clones Advice to Parents on Christmas

Speaking of Letters to Santa, The Clone and her sisters have been busy with their wish lists since last month.

I was just checking her blog and was reminded of this old post that she wrote in 2005 when she was eight:

When is Chistmas, and why does it come only once a year you ask? Well I know when it comes... It always comes in december. If you're child makes a wish-list. Parents, try to at least get some of it. Then next year, you'll be abell to get more until... You find you've goten everything in his/her wish list. My parents do that, why don't you try to make he/she happy? When he/she comes in from a cold day in the snow, he/she will be happy to find a flock of presents just waiting for them under the Christmas tree.

She hasn't been blogging much lately, but she still writes in her journal almost everyday. I enjoy looking back on how her writing has evolved. I just realized she wrote 'a flock of presents' LOL!

Letters From Santa

My daughter just turned 10 years old and she is still writing letters to Santa. It's become a habit and a ritual now, as soon as November comes around, she whips out her favorite Santa stationery and writes her letter. She is always careful to word her letters carefully and politely. She makes it a point to add a little small talk before getting to her list, and she always acknowledges that she hasn't been totally good, but maybe she can get 'most' of the things she asked for? And oh yeah, she would be so grateful if he grants her even just half of what's on her list. LOL!

Her letters are usually forwarded to Santa in California (grandma) and most of the time, most of what's on her wish list makes it through the chimney come Christmas eve. But wouldn't a few Letters From Santa been a great addition to the presents under the tree? I had never thought of this before. What a novel idea!

You can have a personalized letter from Santa sent to your child that will mention the good deeds that got them on the 'good girl' list and can also include some of the things that they have on their list. In addition, they will receive a follow up postcard and door hanger from Santa. Just imagine the excitement they would get from receiving a letter from Santa through the mail.

I'm actually thinking an occasional letter from Santa all year long just to keep her on the 'good girl' list would not be such a bad idea either. This way she won't have to be contrite when it comes time to write her letter!

Personalized Gifts for Children

The girls have always loved reading. When they were younger, one of their favorites were books that had their names and photos. They had a couple of these personalized books given to them as gifts and they couldn't stop reading them! Or should I say, they wouldn't let me stop reading them!

Personalized Gifts for Children, especially books is a great idea. They love seeing themselves in the story. They would giggle when the character, named after them, would do something silly or get in a funny situation. They are proud of themselves when their character accomplishes a daring feat during an adventure. It is just easier for them to relate, especially when they are so young. In "My Special Christmas Adventure", for instance, they get to go with Santa Claus. Whatever interests them at this point in their life, there is a book that is sure to catch their attention.

Tenk you, tenk you

Before we left for vacation, I had written this for Blogkadahan.com:

Although we may not have looked like the Christmas card images of carolers, visiting neighbors and singing Christmas carols during the holiday season has been indelibly inked into my memories. The music has always touched me and given me great joy as a girl, even to this day. It's not because I sang well, but I enjoyed singing nonetheless and the cameraderie with friends was unforgettable. Back then, I relished going to church for the midnight service and midnight snacks afterwards. Even though there was no snow, I even enjoyed the shivers of being out in the cold so late at night with the festiveness in the air and the promise of something warm and delicious at the end of the evening.

These are a few of the things that I would like my girls to have a taste of. I don't know that things will still be exactly the same, I'm sure plenty have changed in the last thirty years or so, but my hopes are high that a little of the magic can still be found. With the help of extended family and friends, I think it just may be possible.

I was really looking forward to sharing with the girls the tradition of Christmas carollers while we were in the Philippines. I was hoping maybe they would even learn to sing a Filipino Christmas carol or two.

They did enjoy listening to the numerous children and church groups who graced our porch steps nightly, serenading us with their renditions of Christmas songs old and new, in English and Pilipino. They were particularly tickled by the bands of little kids from the neighborhood who, after being rewarded with a few coins and some candy, always ended their performance with a rousing rendition of "tenk you, tenk you, tenk you berry much tenk you!!"

Much to my chagrin, my girls did learn a Filipino Christmas song.....this one: