Gift Idea: What to Buy for Teachers

Teachers appear on almost every gift list for those with school-age children. But I know many have difficulty in choosing gifts for teachers, especially deciding how much to spend and finding something unique (picture receiving 20 matching ornaments!). So I spoke with a teacher to get her thoughts on if gifts are necessary and gift ideas.

First, she says, gifts are not necessary- teachers (at least most- you can never speak for everyone!) don't expect presents and don't keep a mental list of who gave gifts and who did not. This teacher receives presents from about 75% of the children in her classroom

Should you decide to buy a gift, she notes, children are often so excited and proud to give gifts, it doesn't matter whats inside. But here are some ideas for presents she likes to receive:

1. Flowers. A family bought her a small arrangement for the holidays- the first time this teacher received flowers in her 20+ years of teaching. She loved the thoughtfulness, and the flowers made a great Christmas decoration for her home during the holidays. You can pick up nice (and often, pretty cheap) flowers at local grocery stores this time of year.
2. Anything for the classroom, such as supplies or a gift certificate to a teacher store. Teachers often use a lot of their own money for school supplies and decorations, so a gift certificate helps defray that cost.
3. Gift certificates to restaurants. Because who doesn't like to eat?!?!

As for ideas of what NOT to buy, she notes that teachers often have plenty of coffee cups, candles, perfume, and ornaments. Also, many school districts now disallow providing home-baked goods, so it makes sense to check beforehand if you plan on gifting homemade cookies or other food.

Holiday Rant: Song Selection on the Radio

First, I have to give props to my local radio station for playing its Christmas music earlier this year. When I was growing up, the station played 30 hours of Christmas music over Thanksgiving and Black Friday, before reverting to its usual lineup. 24x7 Christmas music wasn't played until mid-December. Nowadays, 'round-the-clock Christmas music began the week of Thanksgiving and won't stop until after Christmas. A definite improvement!

But who sets the holiday playlist?!? The station plays the same 30-some songs over and over in the same order. Oh, its the Carpenters singing "Merry Christmas, Darling;" that means Alvin and the Chipmunks are next. If I can maintain over 200 Christmas songs on my iPod, shouldn't a radio station have more of a selection?

At first I wondered if the station needed secular holiday songs, but nope, there is "Little Drummer Boy." My mother noted that maybe the station needed to stay true to its "soft rock" format. Nope, there's Carrie Underwood! No wonder people move to satellite radio or their iPods!

What is your reaction to the selection of Christmas songs on your local radio station?

Taste Test: Sam Adams Holiday Classics

Holiday beers are now on the market. A few fellow taste testers and I gathered to try the Sam Adams Winter Classics pack- 2 beers each of 6 different winter beer blends. Usually, the beer packs give you a lot of different options, without needing to buy different 6-packs- perfect for entertaining guests (usually everyone will find at least one beer that they like!).

• Winter Lager: Of the six beers, we had three different flavors chosen as a favorite. This was one. Comments ranged from "Pretty good" to "One of the best I've tasted."


• Cranberry Lambic: I had high hopes for this beer; it just sounds so tasty! I really wanted to like it. But, the beer ended up as the one we liked the least.


• Old Fezziwig Ale: Definitely wins for the oddest name. And also wins for being my favorite! Its yummy and spicy- but not too heavy.


• Coastal Wheat: The last of the favorites. It actually didn't remind me of a winter beer- its fruity. A taster noted, "Drop in an orange, and you have Blue Moon!"


• Holiday Porter: I was concerned after pouring this beer into my glass- it looked thick and dark. It looked too much like Guinness in my opinion. But it didn't taste like Guinness- much lighter and smoother than the color portends.


• Boston Lager: The classic rounds up the pack. While Sam Adams is not my first choice, I don't mind to drink it. At least it has flavor!

Overall, we rated the holiday beer pack pretty highly. As one of my taste testers mentioned, "Usually when you buy the beer multi-packs, you have a few duds. But all were pretty tasty!" So you can't go wrong- especially with a group of people with different tastes!

Black Friday Shopping Experience

Here's my roundup of my Black Friday shopping...!

I woke up early ( 5 am), but didn't camp outside (or inside!) any stores. My first stop: Walmart. It was a madhouse. My closest store is a Super Walmart, and when I arrived, every single parking spot was taken. Inside, it was complete chaos. People EVERYWHERE! It was difficult to navigate the aisles, much less shop. There was also a lot of confusion about the voucher system. We picked up a few presents, and I purchased a $2 electric mixer for me, and ended up waiting in line to check out for nearly 45 minutes. Walmart didn't have an organized check-out system; it was basically a large crowd feeding into the lanes.

After Walmart, I headed to Target. Nothing I really needed, but I was interested in the $3 sandwich maker that the store advertised. I stepped into the store, saw the line to check out, and promptly went back to my car. It just wasn't worth it!

Then on to Kohls. I got cute little slippers on sale for $4 from $16. A new water bottle. My shopping mate had better luck and bought several presents. The line here wrapped around to the back of the store. Luckily, they were much more organized than Walmart- the single file line fed into the checkout lanes, so the line moved pretty quickly.

On to Old Navy- once again, a line stretching to the back of the store. I got a pair of $15 jeans (only to get home and find out they don't fit- darn!). And a $5 fleece, which is perfect for working out in when the weather gets cold. Next door to Old Navy was Borders, which was almost completely empty (and I found a gift as well!)

The last stop on the morning run was Best Buy- just to check on a TV. But it was nearly 9 am by this point and everything was gone.

Later after lunch, I stopped by Verizon to renew my cell phone subscription. I got a free Bluetooth out of the deal. And stopped by a different Walmart- wow, what a completely different experience! At 3 pm, this store still had stacks of all the big deal items- TVs, DVD players, etc etc! And of course, by this time, no lines!

Did you shop today? How was your experience?

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone! Enjoy your day and count your blessings! (And get ready for the official start of the Christmas season- and shopping!- tomorrow!)

Book Review: Wishin' and Hopin'- A Christmas Story

I mentioned previously how excited I was that one of my favorite authors, Wally Lamb, was releasing a book with a Christmas background, Wishin' and Hopin': A Christmas Story. I bought the book the week it was released and just finished it yesterday. Here are my thoughts!

• Let me say from the beginning, I did not like this book as much as I have enjoyed Wally Lamb's other books. I just didn't feel as engaged or interested in the characters.
• The book is much smaller than the author's other books, which have reached past 700 pages. This one is 268 pages of double spaced font- and pretty small-sized pages at that. But a good size for a cute stocking stuffer.
• As for the story itself, the book follows a few months leading up to Christmas in the life of Felix Funicello. Felix is a 5th grader and is dealing with the sorts of things that 5th graders are faced with: substitute teachers, tattletales, siblings, and friends. As I was reading, I couldn't help constantly thinking of the movie, "A Christmas Story." Instead of Felix telling his story, I kept imagining it was Ralphie...
• My favorite character, by far, was Zhenya. Every time she was in the story or spoke, I thought the book became more lively and interesting.
• The main tie to Christmas comes at the end, as Felix's class prepares for the annual Christmas program. The first half of the book barely touches on Christmas, while the second half is much more holiday-centric. But all in the context of preparing and then performing the Christmas program. But still, especially compared to other books that use Christmas a back-drop, the holiday is pretty centric to the storyline.
• As in his other books, Wally Lamb always adds such detail to his stories. It always amazes me and really adds to the believability.
• So, bottom line, its an enjoyable book, but I wouldn't buy it again- I'd wait for the library!

Have you read this book? What did you think?

Gift Idea: Lush Cosmetics

I was just introduced to Lush this past weekend (thanks Deb!), and I love it! The line is full of yummy bath and skincare products- all of which smell fantastic. The products also come in fun and festive colors. Its a perfect gift for female friends and family! My favorites:

• The Bath Bombs are my favorite product in the line. The balls are about the size of a baseball. When you drop one into a bathtub, it fizzes and dissolves, making your bath water smell amazing and conditioning your skin. Even more fun- most include confetti (some even include Pop Rocks!), which add to the fun factor. My favorites are the Christmas editions: Jingle Spells and Cinders.
• One of the best things about visiting a store is smelling and testing the products, especially the soap. When you find a soap you like, the staff will cut your preferred size off a big block for you to take home.
• For frequent travelers, the Solid Shampoo makes a great gift- no more worrying about bringing 3 ounce liquids through security! You can also buy a tin to keep the shampoo contained.
• Finally, the store stocks a bunch of gift packs, so your recipient can try lots of different products!

Have you tried Lush products before? What do you think?

News and Notes: 11/24/09

I mentioned several articles yesterday relating to the holiday shopping season. Here are a few other articles:

• In travel news, the Associated Press says that travelers waited longer to book airfares this year.
• The Atlanta Journal-Constitution wonders whether Christmas travel could increase the prevalence of swine flu.
• The New York Times gives some tips for dealing with rudeness (and being nice yourself!) during the holidays. Meanwhile, the Washington Post details how to adjust holiday expectations and limit stress.
• Retailers look to stretch out Cyber Monday push, Associated Press. Stores are extending promotions online in an effort to convince shoppers to buy more.

Shopping Forecasts

Holiday shopping made a lot of news today.

First, the Wall Street Journal wonders, "As Black Friday Looms, Will Shoppers Show Up?" The article notes that in the current economy, many individuals may wait to shop for better deals closer to Christmas- or cut back their shopping altogether.

With Black Friday only 4 days away, have you made plans to shop on the day? Or will you wait to decide until you see the ads in the paper on Thanksgiving morning? As for me, I am planning to shop. But I am always targeted on certain items in a few stores- navigating all the crowds just isn't fun for me. And it depends on the deals as to when I will wake up!

Meanwhile, the Wall Street Journal also cites a survey that states most shoppers plan to cut back on holiday shopping. Are you planning on spending less this year? I think I will spend the same amount as last...I shopped on Michigan Avenue in Chicago this past weekend, and based solely on the number of people in stores (it was a madhouse!), it seems that everyone is shopping plenty!

Ask Sassy Snowflake: Hostess Gifts?

Dear Sassy Snowflake,

During the holidays, I am invited to a lot of holiday parties and open houses hosted by friends and family (some close, some not). Am I required to buy a hostess gift for each event I attend?

Thanks!
Curious on Gifting



Dear Curious,
Let me just say, right away, you are not REQUIRED to do anything! But should you buy a hostess gift? Some thoughts:

• Speaking from experience, I don't think hostess gifts are expected from a host's point of view. Usually, the host and hostess are so busy running around, preparing food and drinks, and greeting guests, that they barely notice hostess gifts! And other guests aren't going to notice if you brought something or not.
• However, with that said, buying hostess gifts are really the societal norm. I think if you polled most guests at parties, most have brought something for the host.
• I think buying hostess gifts are a nice gesture to thank someone for inviting you to a gathering. They thought enough of you and wanted your company, and a gift is another way of saying thanks for that sentiment. I know some will argue that an invitation is a one-way street and the host shouldn't expect something in return. I agree, the host shouldn't EXPECT a gift, but I think its a wonderful response to someone who has spent a lot of time (and probably money) having you over.
• As for what to gift, I don't think it needs to be elaborate or expensive. Some sites advise against bringing bottles of wine. While I agree you shouldn't expect the host to open the wine at the gathering, usually the host has used his or her own wine for the party. A new bottle helps to refill their collection afterwards. I think food is a nice option. Around the holidays, an ornament is a nice gesture. I highly recommend World Market as a store with a lot of nice, unique (and cheap!) gifts for hosts.
• Please write a little card or tag on your gift. As I mentioned previously, your hosts may not have much time upon your arrival to comment on your gift. But they can enjoy it afterwards- and know who sent it!
• I don't think gifts are required for potlucks- after all, you are already bringing food or drinks for everyone's enjoyment.
• Whether you buy a gift or not, one of the best sentiments you can express is to invite the host to your own gatherings. No one likes to do all the work in a friendship all the time! Another option if you choose not to bring a gift is to write a nice thank you card.

I hope this helps!
Sassy

And as always- let me know if you agree or disagree with my advice- and if you have any suggestions for hostess gifts too!!

Gift Idea: White House Christmas Ornament

Another gift idea for the holiday season is the 2009 White House Christmas Ornament from the White House Historical Association. Even if you don't live in or visit Washington, DC, these ornaments are beautiful and unique (irregardless of your political leanings!). You can even make a collection out of the decorations- a new ornament is created every year.

This year, the ornament commemorates the 24th presidency, filled by Grover Cleveland. The historical essay on the site details his presidency, as well as the President's Christmas celebrations during his time in the White House.

I have three White House ornaments (2004, 2005, and 2006) and really love them. The ornaments come in a nice, fitted box and a brochure explaining the ornament design and the presidency is included. The ornaments themselves are beautiful- very intricate and delicate designs. The ornaments are a fun and unique gift- something you won't find in local stores!

My Nativity Set

Since I've already decorated my Christmas tree, I devoted this past week to displaying the rest of my holiday decorations. One of my favorite Christmas decorations is my nativity set.

I have the Willow Tree nativity set- I had collected the pieces over the course of a few years and now have the complete set.

But what makes my nativity set so

special is the creche- my dad hand-made it for me last year. Its beautiful- he made it out of oak and stained it a pretty, buttery brown. The stand also has a raised section where you can place Mary, Joseph, and baby Jesus. I've included pictures, but the pictures don't even do the piece justice. I love it! Thanks Dad!

News and Notes: 11/19/09

Holiday tidbits!

• The Washington Post has a Holiday Planning Guide, touted as how "to plan a party and have fun doing it."
• Christmas Tree Lightings Make the Holidays Bright, USA Today. The article details Christmas tree lightings across the U.S.
• Makeover for a Star, NY Times. The author talks about the new upgrades the star for the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree has received.
• Walmart's Black Friday ad is now available on Black Friday @ Gottadeal.com. It looks super good- I see a bunch of things I wouldnt mind having for that price! Read MSN's review of the deals here.

Food Recipe: Dill Dip

I love my family’s Christmas Eve tradition. Every year for dinner on Christmas Eve, my mom makes a ton of appetizers. And then we invite family and friends over and basically snack our way through the evening. This recipe for dill dip is one of my favorites!

INGREDIENTS:

• 2/3 cup of mayonnaise
• 2/3 cup of sour cream
• 1 tablespoon of minced onion (the spice)
• 1 tablespoon of dill weed
• 1 round loaf of rye bread

DIRECTIONS:

Cut a deep circle, at an angle, in the top of the rye loaf. You are basically making a really big bread bowl. Pull out as much bread as you can (leaving the sides intact) and tear up the bread into pieces.

Mix the sour cream, mayonnaise, onion, and dill. Refrigerate until its time to serve (I think it tastes better when it sits overnight)- then scoop into the bread bowl. Serve with the pieces of bread (and the bowl can be eaten too!). Very tasty and the bread bowl makes it super-fun!

First Outdoor Christmas Decorations

I've been in Chicago this past week, so it was here where I saw my first outdoor Christmas decorations. Both on buildings and lighting up trees along the street. I commented to a friend who lives in Chicago how the city has the first outdoor lights up that I've seen. "Yup," she replied. "I think its because its so cold here! It puts you in the Christmas spirit a lot sooner!"

Have you seen any outdoor Christmas lights and decorations where you live yet?

My Christmas List

When I was growing up, I always needed to have my Christmas wish list prepared by Thanksgiving, so that my parents could share it with relatives we saw on the holiday. Since Thanksgiving is rapidly approaching and since I have my Christmas tree decorated, I thought I would share some items on my wish list this year! I always end up making my list pretty long- I like to be surprised, and the longer the list, more options exist.

1. An iPod touch. I am so excited about this! Especially since I am not willing to give up my phone provider in order to get an iPhone. I love that you type on the screen. I love that you can surf the internet. I love the feature that if you hear a song, you can let the iPod "listen" to it, and the iPod will tell you the name and artist of the song. The 8GB isn't enough space for me, but the 32GB will do!
2. Anything Lambie from Bath and Body Works. I love how soft the Lambie products are! When I visited Bath and Body Works earlier this month, it was all I could do to keep from buying everything! My favorites: the slippers (my big feet need the size 9-10) and the sleep mask. I think I even want the sleep blanket- although, I think my dog will like it too...
3. Nike + iPod Sport Kit. Although I hope to receive a new iPod touch, I plan to keep my current nano for exercising. The sport kit seems like such a great idea, especially since I already own the iPod, only buy Nike shoes, and do lots of running. I don't understand why I haven't bought it before!
4. A subscription to Real Simple magazine. I love this magazine and always buy it at the supermarket. I keep meaning to subscribe, but never get around to it.
5. Also from Bath and Body Works, their Lounge Shea Socks. Wear them and soften your feet! I also think they would be perfect for long airline flights.
6. J. Crew's cashmere-lined leather gloves (in burgundy). These gloves are such a splurge, I couldn't see myself ever actually asking for them. But I saw them in the store, and they have to be the most beautiful gloves I have ever seen! Hmm, but for that price, I'm already over halfway to the price of a sweater! Hey, while I'm at it, I might as well mention I am also in love (probably more so than the gloves!) with the cashmere zip-front hoodie in jalapeno. Maybe I need to make a trip to the outlet store?

So, what is on your Christmas wish list this year?

Food Recipe: Peanut Butter Cup Cookies

When I was decorating my Christmas tree, I also decided to bake some cookies at the same time. Since I could still pick up Halloween candy for sale, I wanted to try the recipe for Peanut Butter Cup Cookies found in the most recent edition of the Real Simple magazine. Here is their recipe (in black type), with my tips (and lessons learned!) in green.

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, at room temperature (Sassy note: My butter was not at room temperature. So I just heated it up in the microwave for about 20 seconds. Good enough!)
• 3/4 cup dark brown sugar
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1 large egg (Sassy note: I only had liquid egg whites available, so thats what I used!)
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1 12-ounce package small peanut butter cups, coarsely chopped (Sassy note: As I mentioned, I could get Reese's peanut butter cups on sale from Halloween. But it was a bit of a pain to unwrap all the cups!)

DIRECTIONS:

1. Heat oven to 375° F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt. (Sassy note: I didn't have parchment paper. I just sprayed non-stick spray on my baking sheet, and it worked fine.)
2. Using an electric mixer, beat the butter and sugars until creamy. Add the egg and vanilla and beat to combine. Gradually add the flour mixture, mixing until just incorporated. Fold in the peanut butter cups. (Sassy note: Okay, my first problem is I also do not have an electric mixer. I definitely got an arm workout in. But I don't think it made much of a difference in the preparation. Also, if you are a cookie dough fan, this is definitely the step in which to taste test!)
3. Drop tablespoon-size mounds of dough 2 inches apart onto the prepared baking sheets. Bake until light brown around the edges, 12 to 15 minutes. Transfer to a baking rack to cool. (Sassy note: I didn't make my cookies very large- they are pretty regular size homemade cookies. And I only got 31 cookies out of the recipe. I think if you tried to get 48 cookies out of the recipe, your cookies would be tiny. I also needed to bake my cookies for 17 minutes- probably because I made them larger than the recipe called for.)

FINAL THOUGHTS:

The cookies are pretty tasty (and l

ook yummy too since you can see the chunks of peanut butter cups), although I am not a huge peanut butter cup fan. If you are- these cookies are for you!

Gift Idea: Build-A-Bear Workshops

This gift idea was triggered by an ad in my local paper for the Build-A-Bear Workshops. This year, the store is featuring stuffed "animals" from the Frosty the Snowman TV Special. The characters include a Frosty, Mini Hocus Pocus, and Mini Karen.

But aside from the cute Frosty theme, Build-A-Bear also makes a great gift because you can also gift your time and create memories. You can gift a Build-A-Bear session to a child (although, I also think girlfriends will love it- I would!) and then take them to the store. You spend time together, picking out the animal, naming it, stuffing it, and choosing clothes. Afterwards, maybe have lunch or ice cream.

So not only will you gift an adorable stuffed animal, but both the child and you will have memories to share and treasure!

Crate and Barrel Christmas

I spoke earlier about how much I love the Crate and Barrel ornament collection this year. But I've finally gotten around to browsing the C&B holiday catalog, and I had to share my favorites! Some of their items are so cute and festive I can hardly stand it! Until (usually!) I see the price tag and have to make the mental note to pick the items up once the after-Christmas sales start.

My favorites:

• I cannot get enough of their S'mores. After Christmas, once its on sale, I will buy tins and tins of the stuff. If you've never tried them, you should- think a graham cracker covered with a huge mound of marshmallow and coated in milk chocolate. Yummy! While I'm at it, the Mini Mighty Marshmallows are pretty addicting too (speaking from experience!)
• I've never had them, but I love love love chocolate covered pretzels, and the shape of the Snowflake Pretzels just make these too fantastic!
• Last year, I bought the Peppermint Spoons, which works great for hot chocolate. But I notice this year, C&B also has Peppermint Cocktail Stirrers. That would be great for a festive party, but I wonder what is the difference between the two (or if there is one- other than one being a dollar more than the other)?
• Pancake molds in Snowflake and Snowman shapes. These look too cool. But I wonder if my pancakes would turn out as nice as the picture!
• I love some of the holiday pillows. My favorites are the Snowday pillow and the Celebrate pillow.

However, one minor disappointment- last year, C&B had a beautiful tree skirt for sale (it looked a bit like the Gabriel pillow in this year's collection). I didn't buy it when it was full price at $80. When it went to half price of $40, I thought and thought and didn't buy it. I still kick myself for not buying it to this day! And its not a part of their 2009 collection.

Do you like the C&B 2009 holiday collection? What are your favorite items?

News and Notes: 11/14/09

Today's round-up of holiday news:

• MSN provides some holiday travel tips and also tells you how to get the most out of Black Friday shopping.
• Retailers tight belts to bring numbers up, Washington Post. Another article detailing stores' reduced inventories.
• Also from the Washington Post: a review of a new exhibit at the National Museum of American History in Washington, DC called "Holidays on Display."
• CNN notes that carry-ons could clog holiday travel.
• Also from CNN: get ready for flatscreen TV price wars during the holiday season.
• The Associated Press notes that cuts are expected in the price of live Christmas trees this year.

First Christmas Music in Stores

Today I heard my first Christmas music piped through a store's soundsystem. The winner? Old Navy.

Have you heard Christmas music played in any other stores yet?

Drink Recipe: Champagne Manhattan

This is one of my favorite recipes- I'm not sure where I found the inspiration for the drink, but knew I loved Makers Mark and champagne. So why not mix them together?!?!

INGREDIENTS:

Maker's Mark bourbon (or your favorite)

Agnostura bitters

brown sugar

champagne

DIRECTIONS:

Drop a spoonful of brown sugar into a champagne glass. Add a dash or two of bitters. Pour enough Maker's Mark into the glass to cover the brown sugar. Stir the bourbon, bitters, and sugar together. Top off the glass with champagne. Yummy!

News and Notes: 11/12/09

News and notes from the past few days...

• Calming the Black Friday Crowds, NY Times. The article details measures that stores are taking to keep customers safe on Black Friday in regards to crowd control.
• Free WiFi coming to airports for the holidays, St. Louis Post Dispatch. Google is offering free wireless internet at 47 airports across the country through January 15. I am SUPER excited about this! Especially since I'll be visiting six different airports between now and Christmas on various trips.
• Take Spectacular Holiday Photos, MSN. This slideshow instructs you how to take better pictures of family and friends, as well as decorations, during the holidays.
• Christmas Tree on way to Rockefeller Center, AP. On Wednesday, the Christmas tree that will decorate Rockefeller Center in New York City was cut down in Connecticut.
• For a limited time, IHOP is serving Holiday Hotcakes. Pancake flavors include: Pumpkin, Gingerbread, Eggnog, and Pecan Pie.
• You can find Target's Black Friday ad here courtesy of Black Friday @ GottaDeal.com. MSN also provides an article reviewing the deals here.
• Holiday Dining Guide, Washington Post. The title is misleading- the article isn't about food or restaurants, but on how to refresh your dining room decor. A related graphic shows how to set place settings on a table.

The Christmas Tree is Up!

I had intentions of displaying my Christmas tree even earlier, but finally followed through today!

I always forget how much time it actually takes to decorate the Christmas tree- pulling the tree out of storage (yup, its a fake tree), putting the tree together and straightening branches, adding lights, stringing garland, and then finally hanging the ornaments.

But the result is well worth it! For more pictures, check out my picture album detailing my tree-decorating day!

Although, decorating the tree tired me out- I'm saving the rest of Christmas decorating for this weekend!

News and Notes: 11/10/09

Christmas news from the past two days:

• Kohls Black Friday ad is online at TheBlackFriday.com. Read an overview of the deals on MSN's Money blog. While you're at it, TheBlackFriday.com also has the Black Friday ad for Kmart.
• Merry Christmas, Dax - Peoria Journal Star. Dax is a 28 month old boy with leukemia. Its unlikely he will make it to Christmas, so his family, friends, and town is displaying their decorations early to give the boy a chance to celebrate the holiday.
• Toys in Short Supply as Retailers Underorder, Associated Press. In the current economic climate, stores are worried about overstocking, and are, thus, keeping small inventories. Customers are encouraged to buy toys early or be faced with the possibility of sold-out stores with no time to re-order.
• Online holiday shopping is trickier this year, according to MSNBC. The article states while deals and promotions are still prevalent this year, consumers may have to look harder for them and there may be more strings attached.
• Holiday airfares are about the same as last year, but rising: Associated Press. The title says it all- if you haven't booked your holiday flights, you'd better do so now!

Weekend Shopping Update

In addition to visiting the Container Store for their gift wrap demonstration, I visited a couple stores and a local mall this weekend.

First, most stores have their holiday decorations up and windows dressed. Even Macy's was decked out with lit trees and wreaths in the store. None of the stores were playing Christmas music yet, though.

Second, nearly every store I visited was having sales (yippee!). The Gap was even offering 25% off EVERYTHING in the store. And in nearly every store where I purchased an item, I received coupons for future use.

Since I know many of you are fans, Bath and Body Works has all of their holiday items displayed. I saw several things I am adding to my wish list (which I'll post soon!).

So, the big question, what did I buy, Christmas-related? Crate and Barrel has the most unique and prettiest ornaments I have seen this year. But their prices are a little high for me (I do most of my Christmas shopping there AFTER the holiday!). But I did buy two ornaments that simply look like two large Christmas bulbs. I love them! The colors are beautiful, and the lights remind me of the big Christmas bulbs with which we decorated our rooftop when I was a kid. Best yet- they were only $1!

I also bought two mulled wine spice mixes from Best Cellars. I've used this mix in the past, and its not too sweet (which I like). I plan to try my hand at homemade mulled wine this year, but in the meantime, the pre-made mix comes in handy!

Finally, I bought a present at World Market. But thats going to be a surprise, for obvious reasons!

Do you have any shopping tips or seen any sales? What is your favorite store decorations/windows, thus far?

Container Store Gift Wrap Demonstration

As promised, I visited the Container Store this past weekend to sit in on their gift wrap demonstration. I love to wrap gifts, but my technique could use some improvement, so I was looking forward to the demonstration.

And I wasn't disappointed. The two store employees were friendly and very knowledgeable. I learned a lot- but its hard to explain the best ideas without being able to demonstrate. So I highly suggest you go!

The demonstration starts with the employees showing how to wrap a gift. A lot of good pointers here, including how much gift wrap to use and how to tape and fold the paper to make your package look pretty and professional.

Next, you are taught how to make several different types bows. This portion of the show is hands-on. Each attendee gets some ribbon and wire and follows along. You can see here my attempt at a bow!

Finally, the you are taught some ideas for decorating containers, particularly those perfect for baked goods, using ribbons, name tags, and stickers. The instructors also demonstrate how to nicely add tissue paper inside decorative bags.

The instructors at my store suggested attending the demonstration early in the season- as time passes, the demos get more and more crowded. As it was, there were only three of us watching today. And I still didn't win the $25 gift card they raffle for attendees! However, one downside to the demo was that it lasted 45 minutes.

If you have a Container Store nearby, the demonstrations are scheduled for 1 pm and 3 pm every Saturday and Sunday. And you can check out their fun holiday gift wrap, containers, and decorations while you're at it!

News and Notes: 11/8/09

I am super-excited: Wally Lamb is releasing a new book on November 10, called Wishin' and Hopin': A Christmas Story. I've really enjoyed his previous books (She's Come Undone and I Know this Much is True- and I am in the middle of The Hour I First Believed), so I can't wait to read this one, especially with a Christmas backdrop.

And quick round-up of today's Christmas news and articles:

• "A Christmas Carol," starring Jim Carrey, comes in as the top movie of the weekend, Associated Press. Did anyone go see this movie? What did you think?
• "The 'Black Christmas' of 1944," in the Baltimore Sun, details the experiences of WWII soldiers in the Battle of the Bulge over Christmas.
• Augusten Burrows shares his holiday stories, Associated Press. He also has a holiday book out, You Better Not Cry: Stories for Christmas.
• The Christmas tree that will be displayed outside the U.S. Capitol is on its way to Washington, DC, according to the United Press International.

Changes to the Website (and Facebook!)

As you can probably see if you're reading this, I've made some changes to the Sassy Snowflake website over the weekend. Gone is the black background with white text- too hard to read! I've also added the navigation bar you see at the top of the page. And when you click on each topic link, you are brought to a new page that better organizes the posts that fall under the topic area.

But another big change I've made is creating a Sassy Snowflake group on Facebook! If you're interested, please join (and tell your friends!). Just search for "Sassy Snowflake" under "Groups." I am still getting the hang of the Facebook thing, so check back often. And for all you non-Facebookers out there (believe me, I was one until today!), keep adding your comments to the site!

What do you think of the new site design? Would you like to see any changes to the site or do you have suggestions for additions?

Does Christmas Come Too Early?

Every year, complaints are made that Christmas decorations, sales, basically everything, is set up and displayed too early, always earlier than years previous. People moan that soon the public will forget about Halloween and Thanksgiving- we'll just go straight into decorating for Christmas.

My site probably boosts these complaints- I am ready for Christmas any day of the year! The earlier the better! But are there, should there, be limits? What is appropriate and what isn't? In the whole scheme of things, does it really matter?

I think everyone should celebrate holidays how and when they want. Does the fact that your neighbor has already decorated their Christmas tree or your favorite store has holiday items on the shelves hurt you or affect you? I can understand the worry that Halloween, but especially Thanksgiving, will merely become speedbumps on the way to Christmas. But does decorating for Christmas and anticipating its arrival necessarily mean less joy at Thanksgiving? Can't there be enough celebration to go around?

However, another real complaint, one that I think is probably most valid, revolves around the consumerism of the holiday. Stores have admitted to advertising early for Christmas to increase sales. Its why its so key to develop a gift list and STICK to it. Maybe you can use this early advertising to your advantage and get some real steals- but only if you don't end up buying more down the line.

I still think societal norms exists as to what is appropriate and when for Christmas decorations/celebrations (i.e. no outward decoration displays prior to Thanksgiving), but I believe these norms are gradually wearing away. I'm not smart enough (or psychic enough!) to know if that means Christmas preparations will overtake the 4th of July in 30 years. But I do think each individual should make the decoration/celebration choices right for them. Complaining about the early arrival of Christmas isn't going to change the actions of others, just as their October Christmas displays won't make you hang up your holiday stockings. And just because you celebrate one holiday early, doesn't mean you've forgotten about the others. Last time I checked, whether you displayed harvest decorations or Christmas trees, your decorations don't indicate how thankful you are.

Maybe thats the bigger lesson- one that is reinforced countless times during the season: appearances don't matter. If we focused more on the celebrations, time with family, the reasons for each holiday, we wouldn't be up in arms over outward things we can't change.

In the meantime, anyone want to help me pull my Christmas tree out of storage?!?!

Holiday Mailing Overseas

While we still have seven weeks until Christmas, one deadline is rapidly approaching: mailing cards, gifts, and packages overseas, whether it be to family, friends, or the military. For those wishing to send packages to service members overseas, the deadlines to ship packages so that individuals receive them by Christmas is:

• November 20 for parcel/regular mail
• December 4 for priority and 1st class mail

To assist in your holiday mailing, the U.S. Postal Service has a holiday website that provides all sorts of great information, including how to request flat rate boxes and how to mail packages overseas.

For those looking to send holiday packages to military members overseas, the USPS has some suggestions here. However, having a lot of experience with this myself, here are my additions:

• Do not include the service member's rank on the package (even though USPS says you can). Just the first and last name is best- its a safety issue.
• In addition to the prohibited items listed on the website, don't send alcohol! Actually, the Post Office restricts shipping any liquids, anyway. Also, keep in mind that items that can melt (such as chocolate or frosting) may not look (or taste!) very nice by the time it arrives.
• You will need to fill out a customs form that details the items in your package and their price, even if you are mailing to an APO address. I find it helps to pick up a few forms ahead of time and have it filled out before I arrive at the post office.
• The Flat Rate boxes are great because the boxes are free (order them online or pick them up from your post office) and you know exactly how much it will cost to mail your package. However, if you are mailing items that are relatively light, the boxes don't represent a cost savings.

So what would service members like to receive in holiday packages? Much is depended on the person, as well as where he or she is stationed, but here are some ideas, straight from a source:

• Magazines
• Snacks (like chips, popcorn, etc)
• Candy
• Toothbrushes and toothpaste (hey- they said it! not me!)
• Items from home, like local newspapers and pictures
• iTunes gift cards, telephone cards

Gift Wrap Central

I love to gift wrap. But I am not necessarily very good at it. After doing some searching, I had to share the great gift wrapping expertise I found at the Container Store.

Check out their gift wrapping and bow-making tips (how to make three different bows and variations on those bows) via PDF or also via video. The most interesting suggestion: "The seam of the paper should be at the edge of the bottom of the package, rather than along the center." Guess I have been wrapping gifts wrong all my life!

In addition, every Saturday and Sunday at 1 pm and 3 pm, the stores are hosting a live gift-wrap and bow demonstration. I'll try to check it out and report back. Have you attended one of their sessions- what are your thoughts?

The stores themselves are decked out with every imaginable wrapping accessory- tons of wrapping paper, bows, cards, gift tags, ribbon. And, of course, ways to store the items when you aren't using them!

Do you have any suggestions for gift wrapping? If so, please share!

Seen Any Decorations Up Yet?

With news that London turned on its city Christmas lights yesterday, I am curious if anyone has seen Christmas decorations on local houses or streets?

Then again, London doesn't have Thanksgiving coming up either!

As for me, I've not seen any. And I haven't displayed mine yet either!

Overcoming Decoration Policies

For those of you who live in apartments or condos or live in an area with a homeowner's association, you probably have specific rules to follow regarding displaying holiday decorations (and if you don't, lucky you!!). So what are some good alternatives so that you follow the regulations, but can still let your decorative spirit shine?

No outdoor lighting. This rule is more common than you may think, particularly in apartments or condo buildings. It usually seeks to maintain a standard outer appearance to the building or cut down on ambient lighting. Some options:

• Keep your lights on the inside- instead of lining your Christmas lights on the outside of windows, keep them on the interior. However, this doesn't really work when it comes to lighting bushes or roof trim.
• If you can't hang lights from a balcony edge, try hanging them on furniture or items on your balcony.
• Simple, electrical "candles" in the windows of your home are a classy alternative if you can't string lights outside.

Inability to alter walls/doors/other features. At my home, we are only allowed to place holiday decorations on the doors between specific dates. In addition, many apartment dwellers may not be able to nail into walls.

• Whenever I can place my holiday decorations on my door, I do. In the meantime, I've placed a nail on the inside of my door. When the decorations can't face outside, I hang them up inside, so at least I can enjoy them!
• If you can't use nails, be creative with other decorating options, such as wrapping holly around items on shelves.

No live Christmas trees. Usually this rule is the result of fire codes or the lack of options for the residents to throw away the tree.

• Maybe the most widespread rule, but also easiest to overcome. Fake trees are becoming more and more realistic every passing year. To keep the evergreen smell, buy a few branches or a wreath at your local live tree lot to display.

Overall, its best to find out exactly what is and is not allowed. But nowadays, there are so many holiday decorating options, rules shouldn't keep you from decorating in the Christmas spirit!

Have you encountered any other decorating policies that you had to overcome? Any additional ideas to add to my suggestions above?

Debate: Holiday Letter – Yay or Nay?

In a couple weeks, everyone starts thinking of Christmas cards- looking for designs, preparing the list of those who will get cards, and deciding whether or not to include a holiday letter- you know, those missives detailing everything and anything your family has done over the past year.

I have lots of friends and family who include holiday letters in their cards and spend a lot of time working on the newsletters. Meanwhile, I have friends and family who decry the use of the letters and detest receiving cards including them. So today’s debate- holiday letter, yes or no?

Yes, holiday letters are a great way to keep family and friends updated on what your family has been up to over the past year! - Many people spend a lot of time and consideration into planning, formatting, and drafting their annual holiday missives. You can’t deny that the letter does its job in informing the recipient of “news” (I use the term “news” very loosely). The letter can make family and friends who are spread apart due to geography (or the hassle of every day life) feel closer to one another. And isn’t that the point of Christmas in the first place? Full disclosure- I LOVE reading holiday letters! I inevitably learn something I didn’t know, and the letters speak so much of the authors- you can almost picture them reading it aloud!

No, holiday letters are an obnoxious way that proud people can announce their accomplishments. While I love reading holiday letters, I will admit- I have never sent one myself. Part of me argues, if you don’t know what I have been up to over the past year, you don’t deserve to know now! Isn’t that what Facebook is for? And there is so much of the holiday letter that smacks of bragging. Little Annie got straight As, while Little Johnny was the starting pitcher on his Little League team. It’s a form of one-upmanship disguised under holiday greetings. Oh wait, isn’t that Facebook too? And the mass-production of it all turns me off- what happened to Christmas cards being a personalized holiday greeting?

Final Decision: I’m sitting on the fence for my answer. I can’t see myself ever writing a holiday letter for inclusion in my Christmas cards. But then, I don’t have children- maybe my mind will change at that point. But please, please, please don’t stop sending those letters! Opening a card with a letter included is like hitting the holiday jackpot!

What are your thoughts? Do you send out holiday letters each year? Do you enjoy receiving and reading others holiday letters?

Grocery Store Roundup

Sundays are often my day to hit the grocery store. While there today, I noticed a lot of brands are already stocking their holiday products on the shelves. I saw Kleenex boxes decorated in black with silver balls, red with ornaments, and purple with reindeer. Dove chocolate (a personal fave!) also has their holiday bags out. And I even saw packs of Coca-Cola's 2009 holiday Coke.

Speaking of food, I received a Godiva catalogue that includes many holiday-themed goodies. The best item I saw? A Holiday Truffle Tree- the tree itself is made of wood and the wrapped truffles become the "ornaments." I love it (but I'm not seeing it on their website to link to...) Other favorite- the candy cane bark in white chocolate.

Are you seeing other food brands advertising or stocking their holiday items?