Merry Christmas!

Yes, there is just one shopping day until Christmas and that day is today. I will be at the mall working which should prove interesting. If you are a shopper be nice to all of the sales people. They've been standing up since November 15th. 

Card made by talented sister Martha Marlette

Card made by talented sister, Martha Marlette

Card made by talented friend Laura P.

Merry Christmas to all of my readers. I'll try to find some fun pics to share.

Jackie Evancho

Try to listen to Jackie Evancho singing O Holy Night and Silent Night before Christmas. She is simply wonderful. I could listen to her singing these songs over and over and over. Just lovely.


Some more Christmas photos for you to enjoy. It will be too late to show you in just a couple of days.

Thomas Keller does it again

Thomas Keller has developed a gluten-free "flour" called C4C meaning cup for cup. I made sugar cookies yesterday and it was simply wonderful to work with it. Sometimes when you roll out a piece of dough a few times it can get crumbly, like Playdoh. This dough was smooth and silky and less sticky so it was easier to roll out. All-in-all. a huge success. This product is available at Williams Sonoma. I love, love, love it.

Take your time at the red light

I know I will sound like Polly Perfect but here goes. 

We all have a lot to do this week. Little stickies with important information like shoe size, etc. scribbled in haste. Grocery items listed on the back of a Christmas card you had planned to send and by the way how on earth will you manage to send cards at all????

This is the time to use your time stopped at a red light wisely: find your lipstick, put it in your makeup bag, get all of your change into your wallet instead of slipping and sliding at the bottom of your pocketbook. I sometimes take all of the little stickies and post them on a larger piece of paper, like an envelope, so I don't have to rewrite my list. You'll be amazed how much you can organize while waiting for a green light. 

Do not try to do anything while driving. You are only asking for trouble. Keep your phone in the backseat so you won't be tempted to text or call anyone.

I have a feeling this reminder if only for those of us with ADHD. That's okay, everyone can probably profit from this advice.

As for those Christmas cards, try Paperless Post. You can do it while you listen to the news. Or watch Ellen. Also good to use Ellen as background for wrapping presents. I have become a fan of Christmas bags. So much easier to tackle the present wrapping this way and you can use and reuse the bags for many Christmases to come.

Don't forget to stop and enjoy the Christmas lights and wreaths around town. Everything is looking so pretty.


Following are some pictures of trees I have worked on for "Trees of Hope", a benefit for Ronald McDonald House in New Haven. I hope you love these photos because they are some favorites of mine.

I can't believe it but it's Christmas week!

I am off to Williams Sonoma today and tomorrow for the Christmas crunch. It should prove interesting. I will be like a limp dish rag at the end of both days so I don't think I'll be out partying tonight. But, we'll see, maybe I can rally. 

I will drop of my Operation Santa things on Monday which will be fun. I have made a little present for the classroom: Christmas erasers, some books, construction paper, etc. I have also included a Martha Stewart pack of glitter in about 30 shimmering shades.(something that was in my crafts basket, unopened) The teacher can do one of two things: 1.) hide it, or 2.) let the kids make shiny, sparkly treasures. I would love to be a fly on the wall for this project, that is, if she does it.

I finished my major Christmas project yesterday so I am all set for the big day.   Here is how my week is shaping up. Monday is for delivering packages to P.S. 55, Tuesday is for baking Christmas cookies, Wednesday and Thursday I am working, Friday I am getting a shot of something in my bum knee. Hopefully it is either caulk or WD-40. I work an early shift on Christmas Eve (7:30-2:00)

At Williams Sonoma we have a new product called C4C from Thomas Keller. It is gluten-free flour. I am going to try it with the Christmas cookies. We'll see how it goes. I have regular flour on hand in case it's a bust.

More Christmas pictures

Reindeer at McArdles' in Greenwich

Chanel last year. So clever!

 Burberry last year. Very snowy.

It's been a while since my last post. So busy doing not much of anything. I am going to show you some fun pictures of Christmas windows because that's one of my absolutely favorite things: admiring other people's decorations. And sometimes adopting those themes as my own.

I last posted when we were all getting ready for Thanksgiving. My dinner was a big success and we had great family and funny conversation so it was perfect. I brined  my turkey for the first time and I must say it made the turkey nice and moist. I had been worried it would make it taste salty but it didn't. Williams Sonoma carries the brine and you should put it on your shopping list for Thanksgiving next year. I had made sugar cookies for dessert because it had been my experience that not many people wanted dessert after such a big dinner. However, one of my guests brought a cheesecake topped with fresh strawberries and we polished off the WHOLE thing. It was delish!

I have been taking part in Operation Santa. An enterprising young lady in Stamford, CT collects notes from needy children addressed to Santa's Helper. They are all from one public school. Each participant gets a letter from the child asking for something for Christmas. In addition to buying them a present it is asked that you buy a coat and boots for the child. Well, my little girl is wishing for a dollhouse. I found a great one on the website One Step Ahead. I bought it on sale before Thanksgiving and put it together in a couple of days. The instructions said assembly would take an hour but we know how that goes!  I found great little presents to stuff into the dollhouse! What fun this has been. I recommend this as a way to contribute to others at Christmas and you'll feel so excited knowing this child will have a great surprise on Christmas Day.

I've been working more at Williams Sonoma which can be a grueling experience this time of year. All I want to say to the long line of customers is how can you wait until NOW to shop? We've been open all year, Christmas comes at the same time each year and so you really do have plenty of time to get organized. Anyway I certainly do not say that to our customers. I just try to help them find some great presents.

I am so looking forward to Christmas. We'll spend it with family which is the best thing in the world.

Christmas crackers are so silly and so fun.

These guys look like they're about to jump in for a swim!