It's ALMOST that time...

 

 

Don't hate me for reminding you of this - in exactly 3 months, it will be Christmas.

Don't hate me for also telling you that I have, in fact, started my shopping.

Still here? :-)

While I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the Christmas holiday season and rather enjoy trying to find the perfect gifts for my loved ones, I despise the holiday crowds that come with that territory.

I mean loathe the crowds.  I can feel my blood pressure rising when I think of braving the cold weather to park a mile away from the mall where 5000 other people are also pushing through... and coming out empty handed.  Uggggh.

For the past few years I have tried to combat the crowds by doing some of my shopping online - cute handmade earrings on Etsy, Hemp products at Manitoba Harvest, special gluten-free foods on Well.ca, candy from Japan on Ebay... and avoided the malls as much as possible.  This was also great for finding some unique gifts.

But why on earth start 3 months BEFORE Christmas you ask?

Seeing as I was guilted into asked to attend a friends Scentsy party last week (and for the record, I am one of those saps who feels too guilty to NOT buy something at any home party I attend.. I do not need Tupperware, Partylite, Lia Sophia, Epicure, etc products but I will buy out of guilt for coming and eating some munchies.  I know, I know.) and decided since I was there and stocked up myself, I might as well buy a few products to gift to my mom at Christmas...

That got me thinking - why not REALLY start my shopping?  Avoid the rush?  Avoid the crowds?

I really had no idea what I was looking to buy, so I decided to scour the Pinterest pages of a few family members to see what they had under their: "Products I NEED" type pages - and purchased a few home products online like these:

 

 



 



 Smart thinking, right?!  I know!!  Pinterest, what aren't you good for? ♥  ((And for the record, my sis had some cute legwarmer/boot cuffs she was eyeing and I now know the perfect place to snag some thanks to Krysten's blog! :-) ))

While I am no where near close to being finished - I am happy that I have begun a little of the shopping..  Have any of you given thought to the holiday season?

The irony is lost on me

So, this is not a peppy happy post.. It is not to say that I am not happy - I've been away from blogging due to excessive work, but I am content... I have also been helping two friends of mine (who don't know each other) who are going through some major life crisis this past week..

Friend 1 found out she is pregnant.. and does not wish to be. 

Her current life situation is not ideal for bringing a child into the world. (Young, unmarried, unemployment for her partner, etc) She has an appointment for 3 weeks from now to... not be pregnant, if that is what she decides.  She is really struggling with this decision, understandably. 

I am going to stop here and add that while abortion is something I do not agree with - I am also not going to, nor will I ever, judge someone who chooses to do so.  I am not going to open the can of worms up on whether or not that decision is right or wrong - it's not something I wish to discuss. 

Friend 2 found out that the chances of her ever becoming pregnant and basically non existent... and she wants to be pregnant more than anything in the world.  To add insult to injury, her partner is also not supportive in this situation - making her feel like she is at fault for something she cannot control.

The irony of this is lost on me..  *sigh*

Lost in Translation

So, the past few weeks have been filled to the brim.  I basically work 6 days a week and my evenings have been packed with events as well..

But guess what?  Eventually that much go go go and little sleep sleep sleep will result in getting sick sick sick.  Imagine that? :-)

Regardless, I cancelled my Saturday night plans and stayed in for a little napping action & relaxation.  Shortly before I was going to bed, I received a phone call from my friend David in Mazatlan (whose english is great - but not perfect).

Me:  I am a little sick right now!
Him:  You do sound a little constipated.
Me: .... <smile> Yes, a little.

I just didn't have the heart to tell him he probably (hopefully) meant congested. ;-)