Eight Nights of Goodness

Not only is Christmas over, but Hanukkah (for us) is over too. So here's the list of great, creative, and questionably-priced gifts.

Night 1 Something for the Senses: Michael encompassed all 5 senses in this gift. Smell: bouquet of roses. Look: a great coat I didn't think I'd get. Taste: dinner at the Hitching Post. Hear: a burned CD of all my fave songs to listen to as I drive. Touch: hugs and kisses, etc. :)

Night 2 Something for the Cottage: a nice blanket for guests who stay with us and want to be cozy.

Night 3: Something for the Bedroom: a coupon book of delightful things, including breakfast in bed.

Night 4: Something for the Hobby: a new version of Scrabble, called Scrabble Me. Very fun.

Night 5: Something Doodle-Loopy: a homemade Pictionary game.

Night 6: Something for the Mind: a the first Lemony Snicket book. I have the whole series, but someone borrowed my first book and never returned it. Hooray, the collection is complete again!

Night 7: Something for the Memories: a framed picture of us on our wedding day, along with a printout of our vows! I definitely teared up over this one.

Night 8: Something for Vacation: a gift certificate for Netflix!

Needless to say, it was a great Hanukkah!

Christmas Blues

Christmas day is past. But I am not ready to embrace that yet. I am still wearing Christmas socks, I am still keeping the tree lights and house lights on, I am still drinking Starbucks Christmas blends, and I still have a little gift or two to give out. Christmas is not over yet, according to the Fauf! Let the Fa-la-la continue at least till New Year's day! This is the philosophy of Fauf. Now some people may have a different philosophy. Some people hoist their tree on the curb the next day, pack away their Christmas socks, and only order Jamba Juice, ignoring Starbucks altogether. What's your philosophy?

Yikes!

So while I have been so excited about Christmas and very much into it this year, I think I have been so excited, I'm nearly missing it! It hit me that this is the last week before the week of Christmas. That means there are treats to bake, presents to wrap, movies to watch, songs to sing, lights to see, Merry Christmas to wish....the list goes on! And it's the last week of school! Hooray! I hope your last week before the week of Christmas is cheery and that you are able to enjoy it the way you like.

Merry Christmas! (there's one thing I can check off.)

Temptation

I'm starting to get a little too excited about Christmas. It's still too far away, but still...I may have brought it upon myself by decorating and putting out presents too soon. Michael keeps tempting me by offering to have me open a present early. If I'm feeling sad or down about something, his remedy is, "Want to open a Hanukkah gift?" So tempting! I can't even rummage around the gifts or lift them and shake them, because he said they are delicately wrapped and I could accidentally open one. So they just sit there under our fake tree, tempting me! AH! Anyways, here's our list of themes for the Hannukah gifts this year, in case you were interested and wanted to start guessing with me.

Night 1: Something for the Cottage
Night 2: Something for the senses
Night 3: Something for the bedroom
Night 4: Something Doodle-loopy
Night 5: Something for the hobby
Night 6: Something for the mind
Night 7: Something for the memories
Night 8: Something for Christmas vacation

It's That Time of Year

While you read this blog, you may want to hum or be thinking of the song that the Peanuts sing on Charlie Brown's Christmas: "Christmas time is here, happiness and cheer, fun for all, that children call, their favorite time of year..."

Christmas has come to the Cottage! The cozy Cottage has enhanced its magic with Christmas delights. The tree is in a corner, all decorated, complete with Santa's, disco balls, Yoda, and Starbucks cup. Garlands and lights bedeck the window frames and bookshelves. Our ethnic nativity scene is displayed atop the hutch, along with our Advent calendar. And even quite a few gifts peek out from under the tree!

So if you're having a hard time getting into the holiday spirit, or if you want to indulge your holiday spitit a bit, stop by the Christmas Cottage and Fa-la-la with us!