Breaking Tradition

Everyone that knows me knows that I am a Christmas-aholic!

There is no greater thrill for me that to find the perfect Chocolate Santa or Christmas ornament. Not just during the holiday season, oh no, for me the hunt begins the day after Christmas and continues throughout the year. So last year after Christmas, when I announced that I would be skipping Christmas this year, my family and friends gave a sly chuckle and said "um-hum, sure you will."

Well, here we are deep into December, and I have stuck to my guns. Instead of hosting my family for Christmas this year, I opted for Thanksgiving. While this holiday still involves the great cooking of the mighty feast, it doesn’t include the decorating and the mad rush for buying gifts.

There have been three major perks to my decision to "Skip Christmas" this year;
NO Decorating, NO Shopping, and No Cooking!

No Decorating…

There is no Christmas tree in my house. There… I said it.

I feel like this is a part of some twelve-step program. Not a tree, not a wreath, no lights, not a Santa. (OK, I am lying there are a few Santas, but they all are 2007 Santas.) None of the Santas that reside in the attic or closets were allowed to come out, lol!

No Shopping…

I purchased a lot of things during the after Christmas sale last year. Also, throughout the year if I say something fabulous that I wanted to put up for the holiday I got it. However, after Halloween, I made it a point to purchase all of my gifts online, especially for those gifts that needed to be shipped. No shopping malls… No Post Office, wow, I could learn to live with this.

No Cooking…

As I mentioned my mom visited me during Thanksgiving so I had the opportunity to share the kitchen with her, and eat some of her delightfully delicious dressing. I have had a LOT of dressing in my life, but no one comes close to my moms. I have some in my freezer so when everyone else is eating their holiday leftovers, I will break out mine from Thanksgiving.

Since my son "the big time New York Media Mogul" has to work both Christmas and New Year’s it wasn’t too hard for me to opt to go on a cruise. I can handle being queen for a day (well, in this case 5 days) and having people wait on me hand and foot!

While cruising (and thinking of you, of course) I will be reading some good books; listening to some great holiday music classics; and dancing the night away with my handsome hubby.

I am so thankful that I was blessed to live another year and have wonderful family and friends in my life, and I look forward to the blessings that await me in 2008. I wish each of you good health, a safe and happy holiday season, and a prosperous New Year!

Happy Holidays!!!

Tis the season to be jolly! Check out our holiday message:

http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=9626785100

No act of kindness, however small, is ever wasted. - Aesop

The holiday season is fast approaching and our family is "Skipping Christmas" this year! Not the spirit or the meaning of Christmas, but the all of the hustle and bustle associated with the season.


We welcome a card from you, but respectfully request that in lieu of buying us a gift please do a random act of kindness for someone. This won’t cost you a dime, and I guarantee it will make you feel good. Here are a few ides....

1. Say Hello


2. Visit a friend


3. Let another go first


4. Forgive mistakes


5. Share a smile


6. Open a door


7. Lend a hand


8. Be tolerant


9. Offer a hug


10. Do an act of kindness everyday

Divas For A Cure

Greetings!
I am very happy to support Divas For a Cure for the second year in a row. I am also excited about being their personal "Blogger" for the event. I hope that you decide to donate to this wonderful charity.

To find out where the divas are each day go to the official Blog at: http://www.divasforacure.blogspot.com/

To find out more about the organization to to: http://www.divasforacure.org

HELP FOR THE HOMELESS

The Harry Tompson Center is a day shelter for homeless guests to shower, do laundry, seek medical and legal services, etc. Because of Katrina, a new facility is being built on the grounds of St. Joseph church on Tulane. And they need funds!!

Don Thompson, who is director of the Center is asking us to participate in Burger King’s “Campaign for Your Cause”. The center is already in the top ten vote getters! Starting today and running through July 13 the center needs us to vote for them. We can vote once a day, every day, and on every computer we have access to, at home and at work.

This is how to vote:

- go online to www.campaignforyourcause.com

- click on line that reads “click here to vote for New Orleans”

- enter your birthday on the line (mm/dd/yyyy) and then click the circle next to the line that reads “Father Harry Tompson Center”.

- Finally click “vote”.

That's it!

Rebuilding New Orleans

Life's most urgent question is: What are you doing for others? - Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.




This past week I had the opportunity to volunteer at the Second Harvest of Greater New Orleans and Acadiana Food Bank. I along with 9 of my girl friends met in New Orleans and together we packed over 2,000 pounds of food for their emergency food box program (http://www.no-hunger.org/programs/emgencyfoodbox.htm). We were told that this would feed over 200 families.

Out of Pocket!

As you can see, I have been incognito for a few months! Nothing new and exciting has been going on, I have just been busy. Thanks to everyone who called to check on Ruff and I during the NASA incident. We really appreciate your thoughtfulness and well wishes. Last week was a bad one. My thoughts and prayers go out to everyone who was affected directly or indirectly by the unfortunate incidents at Virginia Tech or at the Johnson Space Center.

On a happier note….

There is a new "Pirates of the Caribbean" Movie coming out on May 25th. I am looking forward to seeing cutie pies Johnny Depp and Orlando Bloom in "At World’s End."

Here is a little sneak peak: