Real or Fake?

This year, I had to make a tough decision.

Seeing that I am STILL sweeping up pine needles in my apt from last year, and that I was never able to fully get last year's tree to stand up straight - this year, I ended up buying a fake tree.

Le sigh.  Whop whop.  I know.  What's next?  Moving to the suburbs?   I PROMISE that won't happen.

Anyhow.  The tree is beautiful.  It stands straight.  It is consistently in the same state since when I brought it home.  There are no pine needles.  I'm not worried about the lights setting it on fire. 

Pictures to come.  Santa hasn't wrapped the gifts under it yet. 

Have any of you had to make the switch from real to fake?  Was it as hard for you?  Anyone prefer real?  I will agree that real is better.  But much harder to maintain.

A Treat for Your Insides After All the Cookies?

Thank you, YouSwoop.  Just in time for the holidays - what I'm going to give all my loved ones....

Colon Hydrotherapy!

Now I'd call that the gift that keeps on giving!  Actually, I don't really know what it is.  It sounds like some test my doctor would recommend for me that I'd dread.  But apparently, it's something you can buy for yourself or a loved one at a deep discount these days.  I saw it on Groupon awhile ago as well.  Apparently, people will buy anything for themselves these days.  Especially if it's at a discount.

No worries loved ones, I'm not planning on buying this for anyone.  Except maybe for those on the Naughty List.

Bah Humbug?

So, all throughout the year, I kept my eyes open for good gifts and shopped ahead. I was all eager to wrap said gifts, but I told myself I'd wait until the holiday season started before I'd wrap them - it just didn't seem right otherwise.  Well, somehow, I found myself scrambling the final days before Christmas to wrap the gifts and finalize my decorations.  I guess, in the beginning of December I had a case of the Bah Humbugs...but it definitely ended.  I can't believe I didn't post pictures of my decorations on this blog yet!

if you look closely, those reindeer are big drinkers

SOME people were very good

big picture

please note the troll dolls

my angel

When I was little, the days off leading towards Christmas were the best - the days after were a letdown.  Now, it is the total opposite.  The days before are stressful and I secretly look forward to them being over; the days after are a sweet, wonderful relaxing relief where I can enjoy the lovely gifts I've received.     Also, I remembe,r when I was little, I hated receiving money as a gift.  Needless to say - this has drastically changed as well.  

Anyhow.  Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Happy Holidays, and Happy New Year, All! Love you readers!

In Case Anyone Is Looking For A Good Holiday CD....

This one is phenomenal.  And no, I'm not being facetious.  It really is.  

Honoring My Polish Heritage

Where can I buy this?  I want this.  Anyone who has 'Jaime' on his or her Christmas list - take note!!

O Christmas Tree

I find having a real Christmas tree very similar to living in Chicago - I had a childhood without it and didn't feel deprived at all, but now that I've experienced it, I will never go back to the other way of life.

Anyhow.   Christmas season is upon us!!  My favorite part of it is gift wrapping.  Just sayin'.

Another Christmas Shoutout

Joe Mistletoe.

From Kellie.

This gift was given with the intention of it 'making the blog'.  These things I just know.

Merry Christmas!!

This got out of hand....

(close-up for effect)

(angel again)

Guiltiest Pleasure of All....

So I have always really loved the Christmas movie 'The Family Stone' (not the guilty pleasure).  I watch it every year around the holiday season.

Every time, I have always though 'I really like that song at the very end of the movie when the credits play'.

Drumroll please....

"Count on me" by Jefferson Starship.

I am not sure, exactly, who Jefferson Starship is, but I am pretty sure that anyone who likes them is supposed to stay mum about it behind a black curtain of shame.  Please correct me if I'm wrong.

Your thoughts?  Are there any blogs out there currently talking about Jefferson Starship?  Yeah, didn't think so....

I Got Your Sweater Right Here.

Go ugly early.

Christmas at my Apartment.

the big picture

Some people have been very good this year.

No tree is complete without an angel on top.

My spirits are in the spirit.

Getting Christmasy Around the Apartment

The wine glasses prove I'm over the age of 12, contrary to the other pieces of evidence.

For My French Readers

For All My Friends....

Happy Holidays, Deer Friends!

For the First Time EVER....

I have been invited to an ugly sweater Christmas party!

Does anyone know where I  can find a good sweater?

Editor's sidenote:  these parties slowly but surely became THE RAGE.  Faster than ugly sweaters became the rage 15 years ago.  There are more ugly sweater parties than there are ugly sweaters.  I appreciate a good ugly sweater (and a party to accommodate it) as much as the next folk, but why did these become SO POPULAR?   Anyone?  Your thoughts?

I Should be Embarrassed, Part 215

So one of my favorite movies to get me in 'the Christmas Spirit' is 'A Very Brady Christmas'.  As described on this blog, it's cheesy and schmaltzy (love that word!!!).  It reminds me of my childhood.

I try to make a point of catching this every Christmas season (along with Home Alone, Christmas Vacation, The Family Stone, and all the Friends and Office Christmas episodes).  Most people I know go for the classics - like White Christmas and Miracle on 34th Street.  It's not that I have anything against those movies.  I guess I am just slightly more commercialized.

It looks (from the comments in the aforementioned blog) that the show is on later this season, airing only once.  I am going to have to do my best to catch it.

Christmas Shopping

So yesterday, one of my best friends was in town.  We painted the town red.   I never know what to do with tourists, except take them to all the places I regularly frequent.

Anyhow.  Saturday, we took on downtown Chicago.  I ended up shopping at a bunch of places I don't normally go.  The result, I must say, was a positive one.  Not what one would expect to hear, but I got a good 75% of my Christmas shopping done.   Needless to say, the gifts cannot be posted here.   Almost everyone on the receiving end of a Jaime Christmas gift is, of course, a reader.  :)

Dear Santa...

So 'Santa' has made multiple requests for my Christmas list.

I am struggling.  Most of the things I want cannot be found in a stocking (I know, how profound).

Anyone else find adult Christmas lists to be quite boring?  Dear Santa, I would like the Martha Stewart wire colander.  Ooh, let's throw in rolling pin while we're at it!

More Self-Promotion

My bracelet collection.  The should be available for mass marketing around Christmas.