Monthly Archive

 This morning, Kristi of Interrupted Wanderlust asked what my plans are tonight for New Year’s Eve. Personally, I’ve had a longstanding goal to avoid the emergency room on December the 31st. Nine years have passed since my mother and fiance rushed me to the hospital for what would be the first of many IV treatments, thanks to pregnancy-related hyperemesis. Suffice it to say, just as constant hurling into a toilet, garbage can, out the door of a car and etcetera, can forever kill your appetite for certain foods, so, too, can an extended illness erase any joy for what is supposed to be a spectacular holiday. And considering New Year’s Eve 1998 was the first and the last New Year’s Eve my husband and I spent without children, we’ve never celebrated big.

So what are our plans, you ask? Like always, we will sit on the couch together, my husband hacking up a lung, thanks to this never-ending cold he’s had since November 29th, and we will watch the ball drop in NYC, laughing at all the idiots standing out in the cold while getting jostled in the crowd. Okay, so it might be a little fun . . .At precisely 12:01, we will go to bed where I will lie awake listening to his cold-induced snoring while simultaneously obsessing about how I will manage to squeeze a full-time work load into a teeny-tiny time frame. Mapping out my work schedule onto an oversized desk calendar did little to reduce my stress over the whole work-at-home gig. Now it’s prominently displayed on my desk, day after cram-packed day, staring me right in the face. I can’t help but smile, though, as this craziness is exactly what I asked for when I decided to start working from home. See? That’s me up there. Smiling. I may b*tch and moan about being busy, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. I thrive on stress, which, although not entirely healthy, pushes me to be more productive and crank out some truly quality work.

There’s gotta be a mission statement somewhere in there. I may b*tch and moan, but your satisfaction is guaranteed!

So, Happy New Year’s Eve everyone! Tomorrow we’ll hit the ground running.

Recently, I posted an article on my writing site about which I touched on the merits of blogging on a schedule if you are someone who enjoys writing on several topics. One blogger I admire greatly and who utilizes this technique is Michelle of Scribbit. I always know what to expect when I read Michelle’s blog, because she publishes on a schedule. Read her Ten Housekeeping Tips for Your Blog, and you will soon discover Michelle is the epitome of organization. Don’t believe me? Just check out her index. We could all learn a thing or two from Michelle about how to blog the right way.

Readers of this site know that I follow a schedule, albeit a rather loose schedule. Now that we are on the cusp of the new year, I thought I would tweak that schedule and publish it for the sake of convenience for my readers to view. Even if you don’t have time to visit this site every day, perhaps you will visit on the days you know I have published something worth reading. But isn’t it all worth reading, though?

Monday: people-of-interest profiles

Tuesday: issues on parenting

Wednesday: paid endorsements and possible product giveaways

Thursday: open topic

Friday: Up For Debate

Saturday: unpaid reviews and possible product giveaways

Sunday: open topic

If you visit Lis Garrett, you will notice an overlapping of posts, which is a result of my writing site not yet having the same readership as does this site. This is subject to change in the future as Lis Garrett gains in popularity. If you haven’t yet added http://www.LisGarrett.typepad.com to your feed reader, please do so. Although I have been working on lining up my people-of-interest profiles, I will not have one for tomorrow. Instead, I will offer a few end-of-the-year announcemets. Stay tuned!

Things will be a little quiet around here until the New Year, as I nurse my eldest sickly and husband back to health while simultaneously attempting to restore order to my 1950’s ranch (plus I have lots of Christmas goodies to take out of boxes and play with!). I’m feeling the letdown of having to say goodbye to my Irish kin, as it will likely be Summer 2009 before we get to see each other again. The webcam they gave us for Christmas will be put to proper use, I am sure!

Currently, I am working on a posting schedule. I recently purchased a huge desk calendar on which to outline my ideas for not only both my blogging sites, but for my writing projects and contract work, as well. I assure you, nothing leaves me as delightfully giddy as a little organization! In the next few days, I will be revamping the blogroll ~ deleting blogs I no longer read while including ones that have caught my attention. I apologize in advance if I delete your blog, but how am I supposed to know you are out there if you never comment? As my writing schedule demands more of my attention, I am finding I have less time for browsing blogs; therefore, I have to be scrupulous as to which blogs I include on both my blogroll and Google Reader. It’s a position in which I hate being caught, as I would be everyone’s loyal BFF if only time allowed. However, I do have a young family and a blossoming career that require my attention, of which you can appreciate, I am sure.

If you would like something to read in the meantime, I have been working on a new series of posts based on my Ten Questions Every Blogger Should Ask Him/Herself. Read about how to be a better blogger by maintaining comments and taming your ego.

On a totally unrelated note, I would like to announce that I went ice skating for the first time in my life and didn’t fall flat on my arse. I wish I could say the same for my poor MIL who took a rather nasty spill. She said after, you know you are getting old when everyone comes rushing to your aid. I’m also happy to report that my fungus is clearing up nicely. If you can’t laugh about having a fungus on your leg, as opposed to having Lyme’s disease, then you truly have no sense of humor. Incidentally, my MIL has a suspicious spot on her hand as well, which is most likely the same thing. I blame her outdoor cat, which are often carriers of this particular fungus, as it had developed a rather goopey and bald spot around its eye and ear not too long ago. And to think I tried to blame my own indoor cat!

The one good thing about having to see the doctor is that I learned my blood pressure is 107/70. Considering the only cardiovascular exercise I get in an average day is the heart-pumping and blood-rushing workout of yelling at my kids, I’d say that’s pretty darn good!

The holidays would not be complete without fevers, sore throats, and a strange skin rash that sent one dramatically frantic and weepy blogger to the doctor convinced she had contracted Lyme’s Disease. Turns out I’m just a human petri dish whose leg has unwittingly, despite my scrub and scour personal hygiene techniques, provided the perfect breeding ground for a skin fungus. Ew! As relieved as I was for my doctor to confirm that, although the rash did, indeed, resemble the traditional bull’s eye mark of Lyme’s Disease, I was not going to be stricken with sudden facial paraylsis, joint pain, or heart palpitations. I’m not sure how I felt about being told I was nothing more than host to a fungus, however, and I feel like a rather weathered and moldy tree. Let’s just hope the doctor was correct in his assessment . . .

As I enjoy the last of my holiday vacation with my Irish visitors (is there anything as cute as children who speak with an Irish accent?), I want you, dear readers, to commit to submitting at least one article for Up For Debate. Click the link for details. Mark it on your calendars or make note of it on your hand. Just do it.

Now, back to the fun before the work begins . . .

The presents are opened and the tree is bare; I hope everyone had a lovely Christmas! We are spending time with our fair-headed cousins from Ireland and loading up on laughs and lots of New York style pizza. Take a day off from blogging, will ya, and spend some quality time with your family, too.

Light the Christmas candle now
Sing of donkey, sheep and cow
Birthday candles for the King
Let the alleluias ring.

Candle, candle burning bright,
shining in the cold winter night
Candle, candle burning bright
Fill our hearts with Christmas light.

by Mary Lu Walker,
singer and songwriter,
friend to The Garrett Family

Today we light the candle of CHRIST.

Find the words to verse one, verse two, verse three, and verse four.

 Merry Christmas!

Before you settle yourself for “a long winter’s nap,” don’t forget to leave a plate of cookies and milk for Santa!

Peanut Butter Cookies With Chocolate Kisses

1/2 cup granulated sugar

1/2 cup packed brown sugar

1/2 cup peanut butter

1/4 cup shortening

1/4 cup stick butter, softened

1 large egg

1 1/4 cup all-purpose flour

3/4 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

granulated sugar

1. Mix 1/2 cup granulated sugar, the brown sugar, peanut butter, shortening, margarine, and egg in a large bowl. Stir in the flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Cover and refrigerate about two hours or until the dough is firm.

2. Heat the oven to 375 degrees.

3. Shape the dough into 1 1/4 inch balls and roll in granulated sugar. Place the cookie balls about 3 inches apart on an ungreased cookie sheet and flatten slightly.

4. Bake 9-10 minutes or until light brown. Place a chocolate kiss on top when the cookies are slightly cooled.

Light the Advent candle four
Think of joy forevermore
Christ Child in a stable born
Gift of love that Christmas morn.

Candle, candle burning bright,
shining in the cold winter night
Candle, candle burning bright
Fill our hearts with Christmas light.

by Mary Lu Walker,
singer and songwriter,
friend to The Garrett Family

Today we light the candle of PEACE.

Find the words to verse one, verse two, and verse three.

You have to be, after all, whenever you leave your toddler out of sight to do much of anything like, say, get the clothes from the dryer or grab a tissue from the bathroom. Overturned laundry hampers serve as perfect step stools to gain access to no-no cupboards, thereby granting ”permission” to curious kids who likes to experiement with cream of tartar, almond extract, pepper, and Christmas sprinkles, or just to give you a heart attack by enabling them to climb into precariously high places, like on top of kitchen counters, to snoop out a bit of chocolate.Child, thy name is trouble.

*taken Summer 2007 ~ that would be lipstick on her cheeks*

Thank you to Mary of Confessions of a Craft Addict for writing this week’s Up For Debate article. Be sure to check out Mary’s site to see her beautiful handsewn clothes! If you would like to contribute a post for a future edition of Up For Debate, click here for details.

Mary has been a journalist for the past 17 years, and a mother for nearly as long. She balances the occasional freelance writing work with the responsibilities of running a household that includes three children (ages 16, 14 and 3), two cats, a dog and a cute, bald husband who aspires to spend all of his free time on the golf course.

On Christmas morning, after all the presents have been opened and our bellies filled with brunch, my kids will sit down with pens in hand and write their thank-you notes. It’s a routine we established years ago, back when the boys could do little more than scribble their names below the words we’d written on their behalf. Now, they take pen to personalized stationery as my husband and I do the same.

Sadly, we may be the exception to the rule.

Writing thank-you notes seems to be a bit of a lost art, one that I’m sad to see go the way of cheap gasoline and good customer service. Among our 19 nieces and nephews, only two regularly send us cards thanking us for gifts (and they are brother and sister). The rest are happy to accept the largesse without even an emailed “thx.” On many occasions, I’ve called to make sure a gift was received, hoping that its delayed delivery led to the lack of acknowledgment — and also that my words might prompt a belated “thank you.”

It’s not just family who seem to be living a thankless existence. I recall a discussion on an online forum about sending and receiving thank-you notes. One of the comments has stuck with me ever since: “We’re not that formal.” My immediate thought on reading it was, “When did having good manners become a formality?” Are we really such a casual culture that showing gratitude is reserved for only the pretentious?

Saying “thank you” completes the circle of gift giving. It acknowledges more than the object; it’s about the person behind the gift. I want my kids to see their grandfather whenever they play with their trains or think of their aunt when they pull on those warm winter gloves. Writing a thank-you note bridges that distance and connects an object with an individual. I’m not certain my teenagers really understand that yet, but they’ll learn. In the meantime, they know when a thank-you note is due — and I can live with that.

When Bridget asked for “brekuss” this morning, I obliged and set to work toasting a slice of bread to perfection and smearing it with a glob of peanut butter. I guess she had forgotten all about the cereal that had been mooched from my dish already, to the extent I had to give it up and let her finish it off completely. Bowl of cereal aside, I’m not in the habit of denying my growing toddler a second “brekuss,” so toast it was. 

Here you go, Pookie, I said, placing the plate of toast on the table.

Cookie?

(uh-oh) No Bridget. I said “Pookie” not “cookie.” In an attempt to thwart the malestom of toddler tantrums that was sure to ensue as a result of a misunderstood word, I ushered the conversation ahead. Here’s your toast, Bea. Yummy, yummy toast! Lots of ooey gooey peanut butter! Yum, yum, yum! (doing silly dance)

Me have cookie? bypassing toast and running for cupboard Cookies up dere? (pointing) Special treats? Me have sumpin special? (imploring eyes)

Toast is special, Bea. Toast with lots of peanut butter is something really, REALLY special! (sound convincing sound convincing sound convincing)

Although Bridget did, eventually, eat her toast, every so often she would utter the word cookie in a most longing and pathetic sort of way. So like any mother with not enough to do during this busy time of year (yes, that was meant to be sarcstic), I asked if she would like to make cookies together. I’m sure you know the response to the promise of warm cookies, so we mixed, rolled, and cut a dozen sugar trees, angels, and stars.

When the timer sounded, I handed Bridget a cookie, fresh from the oven, and she promptly ran off with her special treat.

And forgot all about it after just one bite.

You know who finished it, right?

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Don’t forget to check out www.LisGarrett.com ! If you would like to add my new site to your feed reader, please use www.LisGarrett.typepad.com .  

For lack of a better idea and as a result of scratching my head near bald, I’ve decided to piggyback off SAHMmy Says plead to bloggers concerning what to put in her husband’s stocking. I assure you, nothing revs up the level of frustration quite like having to purchase stocking stuffers for men. However, with a little ingenuity, it can be done! Here are a few ideas broken down into categories according to what type of man you may have living under your roof.

For the Bookworm:
paperback book
bookmark
book light
gift certificate to the local bookstore

For the Handy Man:
stud finder (hee hee)
small caddy of picture hangers and nails in various sizes
mini hammer

For the Movie Critic:
microwaveable popcorn
can of soda (or pop)
dvd
tickets to the theater

For the Grill Master:
small book of grilling recipes
spice blends
BBQ sauce
apron

For the Sports Fan:
paraphernalia of his favorite team
tickets to a game

For Mr. Smarty Pants:
book of word or number puzzles
package of pencils and pens

For the Business Traveler:
travel-size soaps and shampoos
hand sanitizer
tissues
mints and gum

For the Well-Groomed Man:
razor
shaving cream
aftershave

To make Christmas stockings extra special, refrain from buying a cheap can of Barbasol shaving cream or package of BIC pens when using these types of products as stuffers. Although there is absolutely nothing wrong with Barbasol or BIC, splurge on something he wouldn’t see after an everyday trip to the market. Instead of a pair of plain cotton socks, opt for cashmere. Tightie-whities on the list? How about silk boxers as an alternative? Make it fun, and go for the good stuff!

***Have you added www.LisGarrett.com to your feed reader? It appears that if you want to add my new site to your Google Reader, you have to add it as www.LisGarrett.typepad.com . (rolling eyes) I’m not sure why, but I will work on figuring it out!***

It’s about mid-December when I begin giving ardent thought to my personal goals for the New Year. Traditionally my goals, in general, have been vague in scope, but I have learned that setting specific goals is more beneficial. For example, during a nutrition class my first year of college, we were asked to come up with and adhere to one health-related goal. Instead of resolving just to drink more water, I dedicated myself to drinking 64 ounces each day. At first, it was difficult and I found myself going to the bathroom a lot. It soon became habit, however, and my bladder somehow stretched to accommodate my exaggerated intake of fluids.

I often hear that one of the reasons why people fall short in achieving their goals is because they are not specific with what they want to accomplish. Moreover, people tend to set such grand expectations that only ensures failure. Instead of establishing several small goals, such as lose 5 pounds each month, commiting to lose 60 pounds seems much more overwhelming. Likewise, unless people receive occasional motivation and/or reward, it’s easy to lose interest in attaining a goal.

Instead of setting goals for the entire year of 2008, I will set goals for each individual month. At the beginning of each month, I will review how I did and share my goals for the following month. With a little hard work and a lot of perseverance, I hope to reach my goals.

Personal Goals for January 2008:

1. I will walk on the treadmill for 15 minutes each day. This is a BIG step back from the days when, pre-kids, I ran five miles each day. While I refuse to blame my children for my lack of scheduled physical exercise, they certainly contribute to the problem. We do not live in a walker-friendly location (think major road), which makes going on walks out of the question. Walking on the treadmill is impossible while Bridget is awake, because she is prone to throw small objects on the track. By the time the children are in bed each night, the last thing I want to do is exercise. Moreover, I refuse to get up any earlier than 5:30, as Bridget *still* does not sleep through the night. Just to reiterate, I have not slept through the night in almost 2.5 years. I am usually tired, and I need all the sleep I can get. However, I can work in 15 minutes a day, when Bridget is napping, to get back in shape. I have a long way to go. At 5’4, 107 pounds, and a size 2, it’s most definitely not about losing weight; it’s about getting my heart in shape so that I am not huffing and puffing when I chase my kids around the yard.  
2. I will pay off the Sears credit card. This is one of those high-interest credit cards that is carrying a balance, even though I cannot remember when we last shopped at Sears. Not a smart financial move.  
3. I will write and send a letter to my grandparents. In the Christmas card I received recently from my grandparents, I became shockingly aware of their mortality. Traditionally, my grandmother has always been the one to address Christmas cards and enclose a lengthy letter. It was my grandfather’s handwriting I recognized, however, and he wrote briefly that my grandmother just doesn’t have as much “get up and go” this year. She has been suffering both physical and emotional health-related issues, and I feel, quite tragically, that she is giving up on life. I will forever see my grandmother through the eyes of a five-year-old girl, one enjoying homemade ice cream, having her hair braided, swimming in the horse tank, visiting the farm, and countless other summer memories. Contemplating life without either of my grandparents, the people who took me in when I ran away from home, is difficult. I need to tell them I love them, and I need to do it more often than I do already.   
4. I will clean out and organize my file cabinet. What a job!   
5. I will not use the credit card. The bane of our financial affairs, the credit card has kept us out of several messy situations for sure, such as being stuck with no diapers, food, or gas until the next payday. However, it’s also the allure of instant gratification that has swayed me into making purchases I don’t really need. Perhaps I don’t need that new book when I have plenty on my personal bookshelf I haven’t read. Maybe I don’t need another sweater when my closet is full of them already. I feel confident that refraining from making small purchases with the credit card for the month of January will not be difficult. It’s the unexpected expenses that will make toast of us! *If we are able to reach this goal, I will treat the family to dinner at a restaurant ~ something we never do!*   

What will be your 5 personal goals for January 2008?

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Have you added www.LisGarrett.com to your feed reader? Exciting things are to come!

A Christmas tradition from my childhood is the Country Breakfast Casserole we enjoyed eating on Christmas morning. A savory mixture of sausage, eggs, and cheese, this breakfast dish can be put together on Christmas Eve night and popped into the oven to bake as everyone is opening gifts on Christmas morning. The recipe in my Longaberger recipe box is courtesy of my aunt Paula, although I can’t say for certain where this dish originated. In any event, I hope you will prepare it and enjoy!

• 2 pounds pork sausage
• 12 eggs
• 4 cups whole milk
• 4 slices white bread, torn into pieces
• 4 teaspoons prepared mustard
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 2 cups cheddar cheese, grated

Brown the pork sausage and drain the fat. Place the meat and bread in a 9×13 baking dish. Beat the eggs in a seaprate dish, and add the remaining ingredients. Pour the egg mixture over the meat and bread. Place the dish in the refrigerator overnight. When ready, bake the casserole for 45 minutes in a 350-degree oven. Serves 12-16.

If we’re not careful, seeing strange things might become a trend! If you are curious as to what I don’t see in the course of a “normal” day at my house, click here. Otherwise, enjoy the following riddle.

My husband was holding Bridget in his arms yesterday when she sneezed. Guess what came flying out of her nose?

Leave your guess in the comments section by 5PM eastern (Sunday, the 16th), and then come back later for the correct answer. The one to have the funniest guess will win a $10 gift card to either Barnes & Noble or Borders. Laughability will be judged by Hannah and Jacob. *Only one entry per person. In the event that someone guesses correctly, he or she will be the automatic winner.*

HINT: The item in question is holiday related!!

************************************

The contest is over and judging is complete! Congratulations to Lance of Dad2Twins. He played to win and catered to my kids’ sick sense of humor by guessing “reindeer poop.” Although it wasn’t reindeer poop, Bridget did, in fact, sneeze out a needle from the Christmas tree. It was a good inch long and considering Bridget has a tiny toddler nose, it was a rather alarming sight! That didn’t stop us from laughing, though.

Okay Lance, contact me with your mailing address and your preferential book store, and I will send your winnings ASAP. Thanks to everyone for playing!!

Light the Advent candle three
Think of heavenly harmony
Angels singing “Peace on Earth”
At the Blessed Saviour’s birth.

Candle, candle burning bright,
shining in the cold winter night
Candle, candle burning bright
Fill our hearts with Christmas light.

by Mary Lu Walker,
singer and songwriter,
friend to The Garrett Family

Today we light the pink candle of JOY.

Find the lyrics to the first and second verses.

I am breaking away from Saturday’s pre-scheduled post to discuss with you something far more important than my personal goals for 2008. This pressing topic is in accordance with the holiday season, and it’s in keeping with the theme of Christmas. Additionally, since we are scheduled to be struck by blizzard-like conditions, which have the potential to dump up to 18 inches of snow on Central New York tonight into tomorrow, I thought I would center this post on the personification of the Christmas spirit: Santa Claus.

Are you a believer?

My own beliefs came into question when, the Christmas I was five years old, my older sister and I received a joint gift from Santa Claus, possibly the most wonderful gift two girls could get: a Barbie Dream House. It doesn’t matter that my sister was a complete dominatrix when it came to Barbie dolls and I was stuck with nothing but the leftovers (or else a black eye); I was happy just to play in her shadow (or sneak her Barbie dolls when she wasn’t looking).

Not long after Christmas, I was flipping through our recently developed photographs when I came across a picture of my (then) stepfather putting together the Barbie Dream House. What the? I wondered. I interrogated my mother, but she faltered not even a second before she explained calmly that Santa Claus sometimes needs helpers to put together the gifts that are too big to carry on his sleigh.

Too bad I didn’t buy it.

I was devastated, to say the least. Even at five years old, I remember being incensed with my mother and her careless indiscretion. The photograph was evidence; it was truth. To top it all off, the From Santa sign was in her distinct handwriting. Gawd!

Nevertheless, like most parents, I continued the tradition when I had children of my own. At two years old, Bridget is too young to grasp the full significance of Santa Claus. She’s only recently begun to say Ho Ho Ho if she happens to spot a picture of the man in red. Jacob, on the other hand, is quite aware of Santa’s omnipotent power and his complete authority over The List. All I have to say is Santa’s watching you, and he submits instantly. Totally devious, I know. I’m going to milk it for all it’s worth.

Hannah began to question her belief two years ago when she was six years old. She uttered the question that no parent wants to answer honestly, aside from inquiring as to how babies are made. As we were shopping for Christmas presents she asked, Is Santa Claus real? I immediately clamped my hand over her mouth lest some other child should overhear, yet I gave great pause to her question before I answered.

Santa Claus is not an actual living being. He symbolizes the spirit of the holiday, which is giving. He is the spirit of giving. (yeah, that’s it. just like babies are made from love). I then warned her to keep her mouth shut and not ruin it for her siblings or friends. *To clarify, Hannah does know the religious significance of Christmas.*
I’m glad she was pleased with my explanation because last year, when one of her Jewish friends and her mother were visiting, the subject of Santa Claus presented itself. Hannah’s friend interjected with a quick, There’s no such thing as Santa! The look on her mother’s face was nothing short of utter horror, but I quickly remedied the awkward moment by explaining our philosophy concerning the matter. Crisis averted.

There’s a bit of sadness in diminished belief, even more sadness if the belief is gone entirely. For my children, I want to preserve it as long as possible.

When I was growing up, once a present was wrapped, it was placed underneath the Christmas tree. How can you fault a curious girl, I ask you then, for once (or possibly twice) peeling away an edge of paper in an ever-so-meticulous manner so as to sneak a quick peak at a few gifts? In my humble opinion, placing Christmas presents underneath the tree, premature to the holiday, forces children to summon an incredible amount of patience and willpower that is an impossible task, even for some adults (cough). This level of patience is akin to that psychological study in which two children are placed in a room and told not to touch that shiny, brand-new toy or eat that bowl of candy. Me? I’d be the one double-fisting the candy while tearing open the box (and possibly pushing the other kid aside). Don’t I at least get a point for recognizing this flaw in my character?

Fast-forward to present-day life.

My husband and I say often, quite seriously, that our three children have inherited the worst of our genetic traits. Most notably, they are delinquent in that virtue we call patience. And they are stubborn. Oh, how they make me weep with their stubbornness. It doesn’t matter that most medical professionals agree a certain amount of will in a youngster makes for a successful adult. At least that’s what I’ve been told, and I’m holding onto that nugget of truth for to save my sanity. Quite possibly nothing could be more tortuous to my brood than to have to look longingly at a stack of presents, even a single gift, languishing underneath the tree for more than five minutes. As their ever-loving and equally impatient mother, I just don’t have the heart to pick that scab, so we keep the wrapped presents hidden in plastic storage bins in the laundry room.

Aside from the impatience factor, there is no element of surprise on Christmas morning if the presents have been underneath the tree all along. I want my kids to wake up at the crack of dawn and run into our room, little feet thumping down the wooden-floored hallway, and exclaim WOW! Before you chastise me for fueling their need for material objects or for neglecting to teach them the true meaning of the season, I’m going to, in good-natured fun, say shove it. I don’t want to hear it. I don’t care what your philosophy is towards gift giving or philanthropy or simple living, you know as well as I do how wonderful it is to see your kids’ eyes light up on Christmas morning. Unless you celebrate Hanukkah and there is no tree for which to place presents under (although I’m sure Jewish children are as equally excited about receiving gifts for Hanukkah as Christian children are about receiving gifts for Christmas, right?)

Come closer now, for what I am about to tell you is quite disturbing. There is but one scenario even more wrong to me than splaying your presents out pre-Christmas, and it is this: My friend, Kelly Lee, would wake on Christmas morning to find her presents already unwrapped underneath the tree. Did you hear me? Un.Wrapped. Is there anything more horrific than being denied the pleasure of tearing the paper from a present in anticipation of what is inside? But there her gifts would be, amassed in a pile on one side of the tree, while her sister’s took residence on the other side. She and I debated this subject for years, and although it didn’t bother her, it clearly bothered me. When wrapping presents for my own kids, I seldom use gifts bags. There is no effort in removing a conciliatory piece of tissue paper from the top of a bag, whatsoever; I want to prolong my kids’ level of excitement, even if it’s for just for the few seconds it takes to shred a bit of paper.

I realize this argument is completely crazy, but how does present placement work in your home?

If you would like to contribute an Up For Debate article, please click here to learn how.

To piggyback on my list of top 10 Christmas movies, I thought it would be fun to create a list of top 10 Christmas songs, as well. If your easy-listening radio station is like mine, you’ve already been pleasantly bombarded with holiday songs. I say pleasantly bombarded, because I don’t think I could ever tire of listening to traditional Christmas music. Give me a classic carol any day, and save the contemporary warbling (think Elvis Presley’s Blue Christmas) for someone who appreciates it. In no particular order, and without further ado, I give you my list of the top 10 Christmas songs:

1. The Little Drummer Boy by the Harry Simeone Chorale. The first time I heard this song was one summer afternoon at my grandmother’s house. I was possibly four or five, an otherwise nosey kid poking through a stack of records, when I came across this vinyl album released in 1980. I thought it was the most hauntingly beautiful song I had ever heard, and I played it over and over again. Never does it fail to make my skin prickle with goosebumps, and its last line, then he smiled at me . . . reduces me to an inconsolable lump. Yeah, I’m crying as I type this. A pitiful sight, I assure you.

2. Do You Hear What I Hear? For all the bad publicity she has attracted over the years, Whitney Houston’s version continues to be my favorite. Heaven help the passengers in the car when it plays over the radio.

3. O Holy Night performed by Sandi Patty, I first discovered this version on one of my mother’s Christmas CDs years ago. It was another one of those moments when I felt completely humbled. *the video is from a live performance in 2006, so it is slightly altered* This one, by Celine Dion, rivals.

4. Carol of the Bells This is a nice version by Celtic Woman. I sang in a chorale throughout high school, and Carol of the Bells was a staple during our holiday concert. The only problem was, being an alto, I got stuck singing ding dong ding dong for the duration of the song!

5. Jesu Joy of Man’s Desiring sung by Josh Groban. The entire arrangement is pretty darn fantastic! *Don’t tell my husband, but I have a gigantic crush on Josh Groban. Yeah, I’m a sucker for the geeky type!*

6. Joy to the World by Anne Murray. Yes, I said Anne Murray. It’s another one I discovered on an old vinyl, and it’s the version I associate most with Christmas.

7. Deck the Halls Simple, yet fun and festive!

8. Fum Fum Fum Too bad this group is rushing, rushing, rushing. This is an interesting version!

9. I Saw Three Ships My goodness, that boy has a set of pipes on him! This is him now.

10. Adeste, Fidelis. Or if you prefer, O Come, All Ye Faithful.

Bonus: I’m including The Christmas Cantata, by Daniel Pinkham, on this list only because I just went on the biggest goose chase of my life to find a complete recording of the piece. Do me a favor and click the darn link, will ya? Every so often, snippets of this cantata play in my mind. My high school choir joined Shorter College (thanks for the reminder, Leah!) for a rather intense production of this piece, and it was, by far, one of the most difficult selections I’ve ever sung. Over the years I forgot all the necessary details, such as the name of the college, composer, and title (all the essentials that might facilitate a quick return on a search engine). It wasn’t until a google search for something else returned the word “cantata” that the light bulb finally went off. Click here to get to an archived recording on NPR. Click “Listen to audio,” and move the dial to 11:04. The piece is about ten minutes long. Enjoy!

My visual cue that Santa had visited our house when I was little was the overflowing stockings hanging from the mantle on Christmas morning. For my three kids, the tradition is the same. Stockings stay stashed until Christmas Eve, and my kids hang them just moments before bedtime. To this day, stockings continue to be a favorite part of Christmas morning as my kids discover a few surprises amongst the favorite staples. If you are in need of basic ideas for your kids’ stockings, try the following five:

1. Underwear. Before you begin grousing like a Grinch, not only is new underwear practical, it takes up a lot of space inside a stocking, which is important if you are trying to keep costs at a minimum.
2. Toothbrushes. My kids get excited over new toothbrushes, oddly enough, almost as much as they get excited over new underwear. They especially love electric toothbrushes, which, according to our dental hygienist, help even the littlest of kids keep their teeth more clean than compared to manual toothbrushs.
3. Edible treats. Because the time between Halloween and New Year’s seems saturated with extra snacks and goodies, I limit stocking treats to a small box of animal cookies or other snack-sized cracker package, such as Goldfish. The stipulation is that it’s not a treat I have already stocked in the cupboard. There’s no fun in that, after all!
4. Sample sizes. Pick up a few travel-size toiletries, such as lotion, hand sanitizer, tissues, and lip moisturizer. Pack it in a pouch, which kids can then stash in their book bags to keep handy when needed.
5. Pencils. Kids are always losing their pencils. Or breaking them. Or trading them. They never have one when they need one, so keep them in good supply by stuffing their stocking with a package of graphically-enhanced pencils.

What are your ideas?

For a ten-year-old girl, Annie has a voracious appetite for books to rival that of any scholarly bookworm. Having taught herself to read before entering Kindergarten, Annie can’t remember a time when she was not interested in books. According to Annie, “Reading is important for many reasons. You can learn a lot through reading, even from fiction. Reading also helps you become a better writer. Reading can take you away from the stresses of a busy day. Plus, it’s just a lot of fun!”Annie knows a lot about reading for fun, something she spends a few hours each day doing outside of her normal school work, which she studies at home with her mom, Debi, a bibliophile in her own right! Annie not only reads books, she takes the time to write short reviews on her own blog, Words by Annie. Additionally, Annie takes part in several reading challenges, in which the host of one blog provides a theme and guidelines for other participants to follow. “My favorite challenges so far have been the Four-Legged Friends Challenge (books about animals) and the Once Upon A Time Challenge (fantasy, fairy tales, myths, etc.). I also really enjoyed the R.I.P. II Challenge (horror and dark fantasy).

Annie has read novels such as The Lord of the Rings Trilogy, His Dark Materials (which are among Annie’s all-time favorite books), Something Wicked This Way Comes, White Fang, MacBeth, The Hound of the Baskervilles, The Hobbit, and at least thirty other titles of consequence. Whew! Did you read so many books during 2007? (I didn’t)

Recently, Annie participated in the young writer’s version of NaNoWriMo, in which bloggers attempt to write a novel in one month. In the young writer’s category, the participant sets the minimum word count. Annie, however, in true give-it-all-you-got form, decided to compete with the adults by setting her minimum word limit at 50,000. She exceeded her goal by 287 words! You can read the prologue to her book, which is sure to be a big hit just as soon as she finds a publisher.

If writing a novel weren’t enough, Annie has decided to host her own reading challenge called, What’s In A Name?, which will run for all of 2008. For details and a short list of guidelines, click here. I know I’ll be making my list soon!

When asked what she would say to someone who doesn’t like to read, Annie said, “Please don’t give up! There’s definitely something out there for everyone!”

Saturday afternoon found my eight-year-old daughter and me sitting for the 1PM showing of The Golden Compass. Initially, we had seen the trailer during the summer while waiting for another movie to begin, and it was at that moment that she leaned close to me and whispered in my ear, I would like to see that. To be honest, I had completely forgotten about the movie until the pre-opening previews began to flash across the television screen, vying for my entertainment dollars.

As I was driving home one night a week ago, sleepy after having spent a Sunday afternoon battling Christmas shoppers in an attempt to replenish my supply of tape, bows, and wrapping paper, there was a story on the radio that caught my attention. Apparently, The Golden Compass, accused of being anti-Christian, anti-church, anti-God, etcetera, etcetera, and etcetera, bothered certain religious groups. Moreover, they wanted the movie banned because, here is the good part, they were afraid people who saw the movie might be compelled to read the books. Oh the horror of literacy!

Two thoughts entered my mind immediately; the first one was, the movie is based on a book? Truly, I had never heard of The Golden Compass, let alone the trilogy, His Dark Materials. Immediately, that thought was chased by, There are people protesting the movie? You have to be kidding me! I have seen what the critics have to say. I have read blogs written by Christians who claim to be able to separate fact from fiction enough to appreciate Harry Potter, but not to the extent to pardon metaphorical prose that touches on subjects considered heresy by the church.

To avoid opening the can of worms that is an inevitable effect of political and religious arguments, let me present a watered-down version of my beliefs. I am a democrat. I am a Christian. To keep this site free from controversy and conflict, rarely do I share my views in detail. While I am fully aware that this is my site on which I have the right to post what I please, I also recognize the value of my readers beyond any political and/or religious similarities. To drive readers away with what may be considered offensive material is not my objective, and I am more apt to delete a blog from my Google reader for differences in parenting philosophies, rather than political or religious views. Trust me, I could unleash a long-winded and incensed diatribe on particular groups of people, but where has name-calling ever gotten anyone?

So as I sat in the theater with my daughter, I anticipated the movie with an open mind (which is a foreign concept to those living a provincial life, I know). The Golden Compass is probably the first based-on-a-book movie I have ever watched without first reading the book, so the following review is based on the movie only. I will read the books, not out of spite for right-winged Christian conservatives, but out of curiosity and a need to develop a further understanding of the characters.

If you are unclear as to the general premise of the movie, young Lyra, along with various companions, travels to free a group of children from the domineering influence of the Magisterium. Of course, there are several sub-plots in the story, but that is it in summation.

The theater itself was full. My daughter and I were the first people to take our seats and because we sat in the back of the theater, I had the ability to observe the people who had purchased tickets to view The Golden Compass. By all accounts, my daughter looked to be the youngest spectator. There was an equal mixture of male and female, and I was surprised to see the number of college kids who had come in groups and those older adults who had chosen to view the movie alone.

The movie was visually appealing, with its rich colors, grand buildings, and elements of fantasy. Dakota Blue Richards, playing Lyra, delivered a lovely performance, but it was Nicole Kidman’s portrayal of Mrs. Coulter, a woman determined to cut away the souls of children so that they become like sheep in a herd (in other words, blindly doing what they are told), was cunningly deceptive and bad (bad in a good way, that is).

But what of this religious controversy? Although I may have been able to make the connection of Lord Azreal and Mrs. Coulter to Adam and Eve’s fall from grace near the end of the movie, possibly as a result of earlier influence, I would have otherwise viewed it as an entertaining way to spend two hours on a Saturday afternoon. It was a movie full of action, intrigue, and one disgustingly digitized fight scene between two polar bears.

What did you think of that movie? I asked Hannah.
I liked it. It wasn’t as scary as Narnia. I only covered my eyes once.
Can you tell me what the movie was about?
Lyra went to rescue a bunch of kids from an orphanage. (in her words)

And that, my friends, was the extent to which we discussed the movie. Hannah enjoyed the story because it involved a heroine who performed an exceptional task. There was no talk of religion, nor did I drag her to the bookstore to purchase the trilogy. Hannah has not the patience for The Chronicles of Narnia, so I am not about to make her sit through an oral reading of a book I know will cause her eyes to glaze over from boredom. Hannah finds entertainment and solidarity in Junie B. Jones, afterall!

When the time comes, however, I will allow each one of my children to read this work of fiction, should they so please, and then happily discuss any questions they may have concerning religion. I don’t know how much help I will be, however, considering my own religious beliefs are muddled and complicated and have long been a source of debate in my immediate and extended family.

But that’s a post for another time.

In closing, I would like to say that if there is a God, I am glad she presented me with more than half a brain and an ability to draw my own conclusions. God forbid (ha!) if we actually talk about issues rather than sweep them under a rug.

Now, feel free to come forth and tell me how I’m going to Hell. I won’t believe you anyway.

Light the Advent candle two
Think of humble shepherds who
Filled with wonder at the sight
Of the child on Christmas night.

CHORUS:
Candle, candle burning bright,
shining in the cold winter night
Candle, candle burning bright
Fill our hearts with Christmas light.

by Mary Lu Walker,
singer and songwriter,
friend to The Garrett Family

In addition to the candle of HOPE, Christians light the candle of PEACE as we remember that Jesus is our hope and our peace.

Christmas movies are a family tradition in our house and with the writer’s strike going on, we’ve been watching more DVD’s lately. I thought it would be fun to share my personal Top 10 List of Christmas Movies, ones that I watch time and time again. Feel free to share your favorites, too! In no particular order:

1. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: When I was little, this movie aired on Christmas Eve. To me, it signaled the imminent arrival of Santa and his big bag of goodies. I would bundle up on the couch and try my hardest just to stay awake. Back then, 9PM felt really late!

2. National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation: I just purchased this DVD the other day, and my husband and I had a pre-Christmas screening Wednesday night when there was nothing on television. My dear friend Kelly Lee** (say that five times fast) and I would watch this movie, even in the heat of summer, and laugh at all the usual spots. And why is the carpet all wet, Todd? I don’t know, Margo. I think my husband was a little mortified at my ability to anticipate the dialogue! **Kelly Lee, where are you? I lost your new mailing address when my computer crashed in May. Why haven’t you emailed or written me?

3. A Christmas Story: This one is our traditional Christmas Eve movie, reserved for serious movie viewers only ~ no loud-mouthed kiddos who can’t sit still. In the past, only my husband and I have stayed up to watch A Christmas Story after putting the kids to bed, though we may indoctrinate Hannah into the tradition this year.

4. It’s A Wonderful Life: Whenever anyone mentions It’s A Wonderful Life, I envision my mother baking her standard holiday treats ~ cranberry bread, lemon-poppyseed bread, cinnamon rolls, crescent rolls . . . . ~ with this movie playing in the background. I’m convinced my mother would hit the jackpot if she ever wrote a cookbook. No one can prepare a meal like my mother. Her food would make you weep.

5. A Christmas Carol: Not just any version of A Christmas Carol will do; it has to be the one starring George C. Scott. This classic Dickens tale has never ceased to fascinate me and fill me with the holiday spirit.

6. White Christmas: Would you believe that this was one of my favorite movies when I was little? My mother is a sucker for the classics, and this one always seemed to piggyback It’s A Wonderful Life. That singing! That dancing! You gotta love it. Incidentally, the 10-year-old Kelly Lee wouldn’t believe that this was an actual movie. I don’t know if it was her intention to get a rise out of me, but she succeeded.

7. Elf: Although I’m not a big fan of Will Ferrell, he delivers a great comedic performance in Elf. You’ve gotta give him credit just for wearing green tights and a pointy cap throughout the movie.

8. How The Grinch Stole Christmas: Dr. Seuss is one of my favorite authors. Writing prose is difficult enough, but it takes real talent to rhyme nonsensical words in a way that both makes sense and entertains. Moreover, the message the movie conveys is simple, yet powerful.

9. Scrooged: I remember seeing this modern take on A Christmas Carol at the theater when I was eleven. It’s been one of my favorites ever since. Perhaps it’s the ending song, Put A Little Love In Your Heart. I like this version better. Annie Lenox rocks!

10. Bad Santa: Oh, what can I say about this one other than it is definitely not a family movie, nor is it for the faint-of-heart. My husband and I discovered this one, starring Billy Bob Thorton, one year when we were in need of something funny to watch. My mother-in-law would be absolutely appalled by our viewing habits, and most of my friends would be horrified that I find such perverse pleasure in blatantly inappropriate potty humor. What can I say? I can’t possibly be good all the time. ;-) Ho! Ho! Ho!

So which movies didn’t make the list?

1. The Polar Express: Although it was a decent movie, the very mention of it reminds me of being newly pregnant with Bridget in much the same way that certain scents (green tea and lavender) and flavors (saltines and Chinese) make me feel like vomiting. I remember taking Hannah to see this movie at the theater and praying the entire time that I wouldn’t toss my cookies in the aisle.

2. A Charlie Brown Christmas: I’ve just never been a big fan of Charlie Brown. Sorry!

3. Frosty The Snowman: It’s not that I don’t like this movie, but it made me cry the first time I watched it. I sure wouldn’t be a “jolly, happy soul” if I knew I were going to melt into a puddle come spring.

4. Any horrible, made-for-TV movie that was ever put into production. Just as my mother loves her classic Christmas movies, so, too, does she love those sappy, poorly-acted holiday scenarios. Blech.

It’s your turn!

Thanks to Kristi of Interrupted Wanderlust for providing this week’s Up For Debate article.

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Question: Does a woman deserve a gift from her husband after she’s given birth to a child?

Answer: Absolutely.

I did not receive a push present following the birth of my daughter last August, nor did I expect one. (And technically, I didn’t push. I had a c-section.) I received a beautiful bouquet of flowers from my favorite florist and was very happy with them. But I have friends who have received push presents. I used to think they were frivolous and wasteful. A gift for giving birth? Ridiculous.

I am practical and penny-pinching, and always have been. I bought my first car with my own money at age 17. I paid half of my college tuition by banking most of what I earned while working my way through high school and college. I use coupons. I shop sales. And I don’t buy extravagant things for my husband, my daughter, or myself. My former views on push presents have their roots in this frugal history.

Recently, though, I read a letter to the editor in a national parenting magazine in which the writer called the trend of push presents “sickening.” The letter writer, a woman, believes that instead of spending money on a gift for his wife, a new father should save the money for his child’s college education instead.

And I started reconsidering my opinion.

From the moment a woman gives birth, and sometimes even before, she learns through a variety of messages that a mother must sublimate her own wants, needs, and desires for the greater good of her children. In many ways, the woman she was before is often left behind. She is a mother now, and she will soon realize the impossible standard of perfection she must strive to attain if she wants society to label her as a good one.

So many women sacrifice endlessly (and I believe, to a fault) for their children. They neglect their passions, interests, appearances, careers, and sometimes even their marriages and become martyrs to motherhood: giving 100% to their children, and being content with the scraps of what’s left. They put their former lives on a shelf, hoping one day to dust them off and resume living the lives they left once their first child was born.

Now of course, motherhood comes with self-sacrifice. We give up our highlights and café mochas and facials so that our children can invite 15 friends instead of five to their birthday parties. We shop at Old Navy instead of Ann Taylor so our kids can enjoy a family vacation each summer. Self-sacrifice is in the parental job description, and if you’re not willing to change certain aspects of your life once you become a mother, you shouldn’t have children. Period.

But when this letter-writer states that the money a husband spends on a push present would be better spent on the child, what is she saying about the woman that lives within the mother? Does she not deserve nurturing or care or attention or nice things every once and awhile? Is her place within the family structure not important enough to recognize? Are her sacrifices expected rather than appreciated?

The letter-writer also seems to imply that husbands who buy push presents are hurting their children’s futures by spending money on their wives. Not only is this message misguided; it’s also dangerous. When the intimacy and closeness of a marriage is sacrificed “for the good of the child” the family structure disintegrates, no matter how much love each parent has for the children.

A push present is more than a thank-you gift for enduring nine months of weight gain, exhaustion, nausea, and cankles, followed by the agonizing pains of labor. It’s more than an expression of gratitude for the sacrifices women make during pregnancy, and for the sacrifices they’ll make for the next 18 years. A push present also symbolizes that yes, man and woman are now father and mother, but they’re still husband and wife too.

Push presents need not be extravagant and lavish gifts, and I’m certainly not advocating for husbands to take out second mortgages to bestow upon their wives presents they cannot afford. It’s often the small, creative gestures that mean the most anyway. But there is nothing wrong with a husband giving his wife a gift (beyond the expected flowers) for delivering his child. He wouldn’t get to experience the joys of fatherhood without his wife’s pain. And adoptive mothers should receive a gift too. Giving birth is not the only path to motherhood, and while an adoptive mom may not have experienced the physical pains of labor, she’s endured her own emotional struggles as she has waited for her child.

Parents have 18 years to pad the college funds of their offspring. A woman deserves to feel pampered, respected, and important upon the arrival of her child. While a push present certainly isn’t the only means for a husband to show his appreciation for his wife, it can serve as a tangible reminder that while a father thinks his baby’s arrival is pretty incredible, a husband also thinks his wife is pretty special too.

——————————————————————————–

Not to Christmas, the New Year, or even the end of the planet, which is sure to occur as a direct result of global warming. No, I am talking about this, The Final Countdown, a real, quality song from the 80’s that, for some unknown reason, my six-year-old son has been singing nonstop for the last 48 hours.

So there we were the other night, all five of us together jamming to this song, three little bodies jumping on the bed performing wild acrobatics, while my husband and I mimed a fantastic air guitar and synthesized piano. It was a heartwarming display of Swiss Family Robinson-type togetherness.

Seriously, does any other family but ours have this much fun?

If you’re afraid that song will now fester like a pus-filled wound and rot your brain, try this one, instead. You be the judge as to which is less damaging.

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 A recent post is up at http://www.LisGarrett.typepad.com.

Where we live, it’s not uncommon to be visited by numerous deer and wild turkey during the day. We even occasionally hear of a bear in the area and can often make out the forlorn howl of a lonely coyote at night.

It’s not everyday, however, that a Great Dane streaks through the backyard in the middle of a snowstorm. I don’t know where he came from, but he sure looked like he knew where he was going!

Do you remember when, as a child, the holiday season meant nothing more than a belly full of treats and the all-consuming hope of your wildest wishes coming true? Holidays meant festive songs and class parties, hot cocoa and television movies, counting down the days with fevered anticipation. There was little to worry about, other than making certain you stayed far away from the naughty list.

As you get older, however, the holidays begin to take on a different meaning altogether: stress. While I don’t consider myself a Grinch and I try not to adopt a bah-humbug attitude as a general rule of thumb, I can’t help but feel a little overwhelmed as my to-do list swells with the extras ~ holiday baking, wrapping presents, addressing cards and making trips to the post, etc. These are activities I enjoy, but too much of a good thing is, well, not good.

Here are ten ways I’ve learned to minimize the holiday stress so that I am free to enjoy the season with a genuine smile on my face:

1. Consider buying like gifts. For example, I took advantage of a terrific promotion recently and purchased the same gift, in varying designs, for the grown-up women in my family. Not only did I save a bundle for having bought the gifts during the sale, I removed the stress from trying to find the perfect gift for six different people. Although this method of madness control might be considered tacky by some, all you need to do is be certain that the gift is one each recipient will appreciate and enjoy. Gift cards to Borders or Barnes & Noble are great for teachers, and the guys in your life will be sure to appreciate a certificate to Best Buy. Easy!
2. Don’t save your gift-wrapping until the last minute. My husband and I made the mistake of waiting until Christmas Eve to wrap presents one year, and the experience was not fun. We want to spend the quiet moments before the quake of Christmas morning sipping wine and cuddling on the couch together, not spread out on the living room floor with paper and ribbons everywhere. Devote thirty minutes each evening to wrapping a few gifts as you watch television or listen to music.
3. Get your cards and packages in the post early. You don’t really want to have to pay extra to rush a box of presents across the country, do you? Aim to get everything out the door before December 15^th.
4. Learn how to say no! Not only is saying no effective in managing the stress that comes standard with extracurricular activities, such as caroling in frigid weather or hanging lights from an icy roof, it’s also a great tool used to prevent the guilt of over-spending, over-eating, and over-committing.
5. Skip the traditions that do little to fill you with holiday spirit. The point is to create memorable and enjoyable experiences devoid of guilt-ridden obligations. Do things because you want to, not because you feel like you have to.
6. Don’t expect perfection. We parents do a fantastic job of placing unrealistic expectations on ourselves and our family, and then we get upset when the holidays don’t go as planned. I’ve come to realize that Christmas is not exempt from toddler tantrums or spats with meddling family members just because it is a major holiday. On the contrary, I expect even shorter tempers and even more tears than usual.
7. Serve your big, holiday dinner on a day other than Christmas Eve or Christmas. With three kids, our house is frantic with the excitement and preparations for the Man in Red. After Christmas Eve service, we come back to trays of finger foods and sit in front of a warm fire watching holiday movies together. Meals on Christmas day are informal; I’m too tired to cook, and my kids are too wound up to eat! Instead, we save our big dinner with extended family for December 26^th.
8. Sleep, eat well, and don’t forget to exercise. We all know the importance of taking care of ourselves to minimize stress, right?
9. Take a few minutes each day to reduce the physical clutter around you. Make sure to delegate household chores to your spouse and children. Don’t try to do everything yourself.
10. Breathe, and remember to relax! The holidays are supposed to be fun, afterall, so enjoy them.

How do you manage holiday stress?

Stephanie, who writes for Metropolitan Mama, asked recently what my goals are for both this blog and Lis Garrett (a silver-tongued writer). Instead of writing about the specific goals of my two blogs, I’ll post my general professional aspirations for 2008, instead.

1. Have a design and logo made for Lis Garrett (a silver-tongued writer). I would like to have this done ASAP. Recommendations are welcome.

2. Order business cards that have the new logo. *My new domain, www.LisGarrett.com, takes 60 days to transfer and activate. It will be live in mid-January.*

3. Look into purchasing a business license. Research whether or not I need to be considered a LLC. While this may seem unnecessary to some, I now view my hobby as a profession. In Writer Mama, Katz does not recommend waiting until you make a certain dollar amountto view yourself as a small-business owner. Even if my freelance writing does not prove to be lucrative during 2008, I am aiming to earn a sizeable sum from my contract work alone. And since I don’t have much out-of-pocket expense, I consider that income worthy of a business license.

4. Write three articles a day for my contract job.

5. Land two paid blogging positions (I have applications on hold with b5Media and LoveToKnow).

6. Begin Katz’s exercises and use Lis Garrett (a silver-tongued writer) as a public forum for other novice freelance writers to participate with me as well.

7. Write at least three paid endorsements each week. I’ve decided to write endorsements rather than reviews. People don’t want negative publicity for their sites and products, afterall, and I’m in the market to promote, promote, promote! I enjoy writing positive posts about products I like and the people I think deserve recognition. If you would like me to write a paid endorsement for you, or if you know of someone who might like one, please read my terms or contact me at igarrett@twcny.rr.com.  Endorsements will be posted on this blog and on my other blog. In addition, you also get free ad space for a month at Lis Garrett (a silver-tongued writer). Click the link to view the example. PLUS you can either link to the endorsement from your site or include the full article on your site. Any future endorsements will be written for a discounted price. 

8. Include more interviews and profiles.

9. Grow interest for the Up For Debate articles.

10. Send at least two queries each month.

11. Get my name on this list.

And we’ll see what happens from there . . .

Light the Advent candle one.
Now the waiting has begun
We have started on our way
Time to think of Christmas Day.

CHORUS:
Candle, candle burning bright,
shining in the cold winter night
Candle, candle burning bright
Fill our hearts with Christmas light.

by Mary Lu Walker

songwriter

longtime friend to The Garrett Family

As Christians light the first purple candle of advent today, December 2, 2007, we are filled with the HOPE of Christ’s coming.