My Favorite Things

I'm not a material girl...at all! But, I've stumbled on some things this Christmas season that I have fallen IN LOVE WITH!!! Okay - I don't fall in love with THINGS - you all know me better...but you know what I mean. You all may have discovered these things a while ago and incorporated them into your holiday prep...but I've really just recently discovered them...and I'm keeping them part of the festivities in my house!
Here's a few of them:
Picture Gifts: If you're a regular reader of mine, you know I made a photo book for my mom for Christmas of our girl's trip to the North Shore we took this summer with my sisters, nieces and my mom. She'll love it. I also planned to make one for my hubby of our Glacier trip, but time got away from me. (That will have to be a Valentine's gift?) Picture gifts are great to give because of the sentimental meaning. I also recently realized the value of receiving a picture gift! Our friends Gary and Amy - who we went to Glacier with - sent us a beautiful calendar with pics from our trip  to Glacier (not just "picture of the month", but pics in random spaces on the dates, too!). It was such an unexpected and wonderful gift to receive...truly heartwarming! I can't wait for my mom to open her gift, now! I know how she'll feel!

Keeping It Simple: Well, this is my first Christmas with MS, so I needed to simplify because of who I am now...plus, yesterday I went to the doctor to find out I have pneumonia. Perfect timing, right??? Ugh! (Actually, when I'm sick I usually put it off until right before we travel, and then I can't get in for an appointment, so I'm miserable throughout our whole vacation...so, I decided not to be stupid this time...I'm glad I went. I took my first dose of Zithromax and I already feel better!) Anyhow, this necessary simplicity is really where it's at. I've only hung up my favorite decorations...and it's beautiful! I'm only baking the basics...and the world did not stop spinning - Imagine that! I'm far less stressed than any year I can rememeber. It's lovely!

Susan Boyle's "The Gift" CD: My friend Robbin gave me this CD as a Christmas gift this year.

You know Susan Boyle...the Britain's Got Talent winning sensation? I had heard snippets of her singing on t.v., but never a whole song until I heard this CD playing in the background while I was over at my friend Robbin's. I didn't know it was Susan Boyle, but I loved the music. Her voice is like an angel's! Robbin knew I loved it, and got it for me for Christmas. What a good friend! If you hear this Christmas CD, I guarantee you're going to want it for your Christmas music collection. I bought one for my MIL for when we go to her house for Christmas morning. I know she's going to love it!

Giving Gifts From The Kitchen: This has been my gift to the families of my siblings for years, but I love to give gifts! However, I cannot afford to purchase gifts for all of my friends, and everyone I think of that I appreciate. I just can't. I'm a people person-I love to appreciate lots of people! So, making a bunch of gifts from the kitchen (I love to get ideas from my bloggy friends - check out Jen at 3 Little Monkey's...she's been a good one for this during this season!) and packaging them up in bags (my friend Heather gets festive bags from the dollar store - 30 for $1!...she even gave me some...again...great friends...) This way, I can make little bags of goodies that let people know I am thinking of them this season, and that I love and appreciate them and it doesn't break the bank. Christmas should never break the bank!

Only Doing What I Love: Baking (a little), decorating (a little), shopping (a bit more than a little), cleaning (as little as I can get away with), entertaining (a lot), wrapping my packages in a pretty way...all these things are things I really enjoy doing for the holidays. My family took signals from me, and while I was at my Mom's one day this month they hung boughs, the wreath and put up the tree & lights (and left the hanging of ornaments for me). Of course, there's a certain amount of stuff I have to do that I don't like because things need doing, but there's an awful lot I can delegate - and so many things can get ordered and shipped for free around this time of year - no stores needed (unless I really need a shopping day!).

Little Things Mean A Lot: There are so many people who don't have what I have - a loving family, too many friends to count, enough money to purchase gifts. This isn't something I really have discovered this year...I try to live my life mindful of that - but this season allows me to see it every day - with the red Salvation Army kettles and "adopt a needy family" service projects galore! We must never take what we have for granted. And, I know some very lonely people - personally. I need to make sure I call them...and take over one of those bags of goodies. Some day that could be me...or you.

What are your favorite things this season? What have you discovered???