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A Few of My Favorite Things

On December 6, 2011

Despite moaning and groaning about this time of year and the stress it brings, there are a few things I find uniquely wonderful about the holiday season:

I love those cheap, big tins of popcorn. You know, the ones that come with butter, popcorn and caramel flavored popcorn. Yum! I could eat that cheese and butter popcorn for ages, which is probably about how long it’s been sitting in a tin. My sister likes the carmel popcorn so I pass on my partially-used tins to her.
I like getting holiday cards. I think the photo ones are great because I can see how friends’ kids are growing up. The family letters and occasional holiday CD amuse me. But, best of all, I have a few friends who are graphic designers and design their own cards. Those are alwaysfun to see.
Although I think I am pretty terrible at receiving gifts, I love to give them. I take it as a personal challenge to find people the absolute best thing. After the holidays I’ll expand on some of my greatest finds.
White Christmas and Holiday Inn are both super movies and it only seems right watching them over the holidays so I fully take advantage of their repeated airings. I’ve struggled with both films over the years because of some pretty blatant race issues, but I try to just enjoy the stories.
Despite really wanting to support local businesses, my primary coping mechanism over the holidays is to do my shopping online. It’s fast, convenient and I never have to set foot in a mall. My online shopping is fed by all of the gift guides that are published over the holidays. I love the ones by Design Sponge and My Life Scoop the best. These guides are what keep me connected with current, quirky items available online.
Finally, I like the holidays because I get to see all of my family and friends. I wish things were a little calmer and that I got to spend more quality time with people, but I’ll take what I can get!

Thanks

By Kate

On November 24, 2011

In animals, family / friends, photography

Thank you, Wonder Boy, for listening to me when I’m struggling, making me dinner when I’m too tired to cook, taking me out on fun dates and explaining to me in great depth how bluetooth technology works.

Thank you to all of my family for lots of laughs and support.

Thank you Ohio Alleycat Resource & Spay / Neuter Clinic for letting me foster Matzah Ball and Latke. They’ve made coming home in the evening so much more fun and I can think of nothing greater than having them curl up on my chest in the morning, purring up a storm.

Thank you to my friends for lots of evenings out, tons of laughter and keeping me in touch with great music, good books and more ~~dumb~~ great stuff online than I could ever hope to discover on my own.

Thank you to my photography teacher for getting me feeling creative again. In the past months I’ve felt inspired in a way I hadn’t in a while.

Thank you to Biggie for unintentionally making me laugh on a regular basis by forgetting to put your tongue back in your mouth and to Addy for being a loyal shadow.

Thank you to the too many friends I have who are struggling their own battles right now for giving me an example of how to persevere and live a good, honorable life.

Preparing for the Onslaught

By Kate

On November 16, 2011

In family / friends

I’ve been feeling the pressure of the holidays since about mid-October. I love gift giving and seeing family and friends, but still find it to be the toughest time of year. I feel rushed, don’t get enough time to myself and never feel like there is enough of me to go around. This year, I’m trying to take control.

We have 14 family events from early November to the end of December. On top of that are friends’ birthdays, holiday parties and work events. It’s a lot to facilitate so I am applying an overwhelming (ask Wonder Boy) amount of organization.

I’m well into my Christmas shopping and event prepared for holiday baking. In order to save visits to the dreaded mall, I’ve been doing a ton of online shopping. As soon as something shows up on my doorstep, I wrap it and take it to the attic. I’ve also developed a spreadsheet (nerd) of who gets what when and how much I’m spending.

I might also have all of the holiday cards addressed. That way Wonder Boy and I can write them as we watch TV and they’ll be all set to go by the end of next week.

I’m curious about you. How do you handle the holidays and keep stress at bay?

Chucks and Va-Jay Jays

By Kate

On October 25, 2011

In family / friends

When Chaos and Loving it had their two boys, my nephews, I ate it up and took my job as aunt very seriously. I developed a major shopping / gift giving problem and loved to find cool outfits and toys for them. I still do and usually have a stockpile of gifts for them in my attic. I love those boys! But, when I found out my sister was pregnant, I was a little hopeful for a niece just so start looking for girl clothes and toys, too. As luck would have it, I’ll finally get my chance to shop for girl clothes! The rules I made up for my nephews will still apply: nothing cutesy; aim for cool.

Over the past months I’ve been appeasing my shopping addiction with nice gender-neutral gifts that every cool kid needs like Chuck Taylors.

I also patiently waited for my sister to have her baby so I could bust out my awesome card for new moms.

I also gave this card to my sister-in-law, but there are really very few people for whom this is appropriate.

Auntie

By Kate

On October 24, 2011

In family / friends

My baby sister had a baby. It’s crazy to think that you go from holding your baby sister to holding your baby sister’s baby.

This is me holding my sister 31 years ago.

This is me holding my new niece. I did actually pick her up but I did not try to squeeze her in a bear hug, which is what I appear to be doing in that picture above with my sister.