'Tis the Season!

'Tis the season to go shopping....
Fa La La La La, La La La La!
Christmas Wish Lists keep me hopping...
Fa La La La La, La La La La....

Oh, yes. The consumer season is upon us. I'm not a big shopper for most of the year, but give me a reason to shop and permission to spend and I'm right out there with the best of them.

What really gets me...in the wallet...are all those shiny gadgets, colorful gift boxes, and new, never marketed before, glossy or sparkly, or just plain cute...THINGS just begging to be bought!

During the year I walk past displays in Target (or Wal-Mart--I don't discriminate), head held high, motivation intact. Nope. Don't need that. I came for the dog food on sale. I don't need the latest sweater or the matching individual casserole bowls in fall colors. But starting with Black Friday, I am way-laid by the sparkly tops. I gaze at the Christmas dishes. I find my cart filling with cute toys for kids, 'adorable' stocking stuffers, and...oops...what to my wondering eyes should appear, but holiday wineglasses to help spread the cheer!

And I confess I am a sucker for a MAN gadget in a gift pack!

Let's face it. Is there anyone harder to shop for than a man? First of all, most men can't come up with a (decent) list of things they want for Christmas so it's really their own fault when they end up with the stuff marketed for men at Christmas. And even if they do give you a wish list, it's for work gloves or something silly like drill bits! I mean, what kind of gift is that? It's like giving me an iron! Why don't they want fun stuff? How many wrenches, drill bits, or black electric tape can they use?

And that is the crux of the problem and the reason for all those glitzy gift packs. Women like shiny and glitzy. Men like useful and practical. The result is predictable. He gets the charging station and the matching briefcase, billfold and credit card holder, when what he really wants are the floor mats for his truck. She gets the crockpot and set of cookbooks from the Food Network, when she was hoping he'd go to Jared's.

Do we need anymore evidence that 'Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus'? Christmas should be the exclamation point on that concept!

Before I close, I need to add a disclaimer here. My husband and I both go towards the practical side. I like a bit of glitz in my own life and I am guilty of buying that gift item marketed towards women to buy for men, but overall, most of the gifts we buy for each other are simple, practical, and right on target. He doesn't really need to go to Jared's to reach my heart.

And now...back to the store. There are only a few shopping days left and I'm pretty sure I hear Target calling my name.

Fa La La La La La La La LA!

Christmas Rush

"Christmas is just over a week away and it seems as though there just isn't enough time in the day to get everything done." That statement applies to almost everyone at this time of year. I've noticed I don't have time to blog. It seems as if there are so many more pressing needs. I'll be walking the dog, or shopping in the mall and think of things I want to blog about, but when I get home I 'have to do ........ first'!

A few weeks ago my daughter texted me:  'my Christmas Cards are done, but I still feel like I'm behind'. 'Are you kidding?' I texted back. 'I don't even have my TREE up yet!!' Then I looked at the calendar. It was Dec. 1! Her card arrived in the mail the next day. It was the first one of the season. And that got me worrying a little bit. My cousin has always sent the first card, usually right after Thanksgiving, (for the last 40 years!). I hoped she was OK. I was glad to see her card arrive a week later.

Ok. So what's the rush? I am just as guilty. Until my cards were out and my tree was up, I felt as though the season was running away without me. I started thinking back to when I actually had a job and 2 kids at home that had to be chauffered here and there. My goal was to get the cards out and delivered by Dec. 24. If the tree was up 2 weeks before Christmas we were doing well. As a teacher, a scout leader, and a part of other groups, my focus was on getting packages mailed to relatives first, making Christmas gifts for scouts, buying gifts for other teachers,  and getting things done before school went on break. We usually went on break about 5 days before Christmas and that's when I started my family shopping!

Now I'm retired. My kids are raising their own families (and in some ways emulating the habits they saw in their mother). I don't usually have packages to mail any more and the kids are coming here. Ordering a Christmas card photo with a holiday message and printed signature has taken the writer's cramp out of all the cards with personal messages added on.The pace has slowed considerably. But not the sense of 'the rush'. December 1 and I already was wondering when it was going to get done. In the old days I never had time to worry about it. I just pushed through each day and tackled the next 'this has to be done tonight' project.

1 Week out: the lights are on the house, the tree is up, the cards are out, and most of the shopping is done. The house is decorated with all my favorite tsotchkes (is that how you spell it?)--Hey kids, that's a local word for KnickKnacks. I feel much more relaxed about the whole season now, but I've learned, until all the decorations are up and the boxes tucked back in the closet I will still feel the pressure, even if I still have 3 weeks to go.

I hope you and yours are all able to enjoy the holiday season whether it is rushed or relaxed. (And if you can be relaxed my guess is that you are one in a million!) Enjoy a cup of hot chocolate while you put up the tree and a glass of wine when it's done. Or Vice Versa! Or wine both times! Whatever makes your day a little lighter. Tis the season ... For a Reason.  So savor the moment. What's the rush? You still have a week to go!