Are you ready for Christmas?

I've been shopping and wrapping, shopping and wrapping and I'm happy to say it's all done now!

So what about you? Are you a last minute shopper. Do you fight the crowds and traffic or do you plan ahead?

Some of my friends buy Christmas presents all during the year, so come December, they have all the gifts ready. I'm not that good and I only like to shop when I know what I'm looking for. Are you like that too? Or do you like to wander and browse?

I get many of my gifts online these days too. The best thing is when there's Free Shipping and No Tax. Usually the gifts arrive at my door in a week's time. It's fingertip shopping at its best!

We've made charitable donations and hopefully many around the world can enjoy the holiday without too much sacrifice. Our favorite charities are Operation Gratitude, Make a Wish Foundation, The American Cancer Society and local food banks. One Christmas we vow to have a Gift-Free holiday and use that extra to contribute even more.

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I'm excited that my new website should be up and running by the new year. Look for my special Housewarming Contest! I'll be sending out newsletters to remind you to visit and enter! And I'll have a new Blog page - Let's talk Heroes and Hunks! You won't want to miss that!

Christmas at Our House

We love our fake trees. This tinsel tree we forgot that we purchased last year after Christmas. It's pre-lit and we keep no ornaments on it. It's a reminder of the trees our parents had when we were growing up. Don't you love it? We've always wanted a tree in our family/TV room. We spend a lot of time in there.


This one belonged to my mother. When she got too old to put a big tree, she decorated this tiny one with small ornaments. It sits in my living room now on a tabletop.





After 30 years of real trees, we decided to avoid the hassle and cost of getting a live tree - my husband worried about the dry pine needles causing a house fire as one house in our neighborhood burned to the ground that way. What can you do? In California our warm temps during winter causes problems. This tree is our mainstay and houses all of our favorite ornaments.

Oh and if you'd love a really great free online read, our fellow Filly from Petticoats and Pistols is offering up a daily serial of a great western!
Check Pot Potter's story out HERE.