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How is everyone holding up with all the Christmas preparations?  I have a confession to make – and I feel bad for saying this – but I'm really having a hard time getting into the Christmas spirit this year.  It all feels like one big long to do list after another.   I miss that giddy, sparkly excitement I usually feel.  Instead it just feels like something to get through.  

Bah humbug.  Hopefully I'll perk up once I'm done with shopping and wrapping.

One bright spot is watching our granddaughter and how new and exciting everything is to her.  She is one and half and is fascinated with all the lights and the shiny things.  We are giving her a play kitchen for her big present.  I love the retro vibe of the one we got (from Wayfair, if anyone is interested…).  Heck – I would cook in that little kitchen if it were real.  

Rick assembled it with me handing him parts.  I texted my son and told him to be thankful we didn't leave the assembling to him!  I will say everything was labeled very clearly and other than being time consuming, went together pretty easily.  

We'll add some play kitchenware and I think she'll have a lot of fun with it.  

This year's wrapping theme is pastels.  Plus side is I get to use up some of my ribbon stash.  Along with the surplus of white paper I seem to have.  

On Saturday I went wine-tasting in Napa with some of my girlfriends.  This is the first time I've been to Napa since the devastating fires earlier in the Fall.  The hills definitely looked scorched and barren but the wineries and valley vineyards look just as beautiful and charming as ever.  We had an appointment for a tasting at Yates Family Vineyard which is about three or four miles up a narrow, winding road but when we were about 1/4 a mile away the road was blocked and the winery owner was waiting for us.  She said that a tree had just fallen across the road and had taken down some power lines which were still live.  She said that the area will continue to lose a lot of trees because they were weakened by the fire.  Yesterday was very windy in the area and down one went. 

We ended up going to a different winery and had a lovely time.  It was nice to spend time with friends and support an area whose tourism has been so badly impacted.  We are planning a makeup trip to Yates in the Spring.

I am officially off work until the new year which is lovely.  Today I'm hoping to finish up my shopping.  Wish me luck!

 

I think my favorite part of Christmas is the stockings.  It is such a low pressure way to add fun to Christmas.  No stressing if it is THE perfect gift as it is just an assortment of fun or useful items.  Also it is really a lovely (and easy) gesture, if you have stray out of town guests, to give them a stocking of their own on Christmas morning.  We've had a few people that were at loose ends on Christmas so of course we had them come celebrate to us and I think it really helps them feel part of the festivities.  They have their very own stocking!  

It is also my experience that the older the recipient the more fun they have with their stockings.  My boys and daughter in law, good lord help me, are in their 30's and I think they get as much fun out of the stocking as they do their regular gifts.  I have a stocking for my granddaughter too, but I think ideas for children are plentiful so I'm concentrating on stockings for young adults. 

Speaking of stockings – you can be creative here and not do the standard stocking.  Although they are plentiful and inexpensive if you want to go the traditional route.  Instead of a regular stocking I have found nice red boxes that I have filled with stocking stuffers and tied up with a fluffy white ribbon.  

I have a few standard items that are added to each stocking every year.  Regardless of the gender or age of the person.  Toothbrush, lipbalm, socks, candy cane, pen, notebook, See's chocolate Santa and chocolate coins.  Then I try to add gender specific items.  Pocket knives, mascara, face masks, bottle openers.  All of which can be added to either gender – depending on the recipient.  Hey I'm an equal opportunity face masker.  

I'm not adding links to this post because everything is so easy to find.  If you have a question about a particular item let me know in the comments and I'll supply you with a link.

Ideas for the boys:

• Socks
• Flask
• Phone camera lens
• Phone charger
• Playing cards
• Bottle opener
• Comb
• Chocolate Santa
• Candy Cane
• Lip balm 
• Chocolate coins
• Pen
• Notebook
• Giftcard
• Pocket knife
• Toothbrush

Ideas for the girls:

• Socks
• Mascara
• Phone camera lens
• Phone charger
• Playing cards
• Face mask
• Makeup brushes
• Chocolate Santa
• Candy Cane
• Lip balm 
• Chocolate coins
• Pen
• Notebook
• Giftcard
• Eye-shadow Palette
• Toothbrush

I do hope you found this helpful or inspiring.  Remember – it's the little things in life that give us the most joy.