Christmas Shopping On Its Way!!!

HI All,
Well, I sometimes have all my Christmas shopping done by the end of October. This year that didn't happen. But I managed to get to the Mall this week, and in one fell swoop, as they say, I got 1/3 of it done. I am really glad that I was there when everybody else was somewhere other than the Mall. It was relatively quiet, and I got to look around, without any of the bustle that happens around this time of year. I have all the women in our family taken care of, and my MIL as well. Now I will start working on the men, and my DH, and then the kiddos in the family. My family is quite large, and though I have no children of my own, I give to a lot of my nieces, nephews, and great, and great-great nieces and nephews, and a few of my sisters as well, so it gets to be pretty crazy this time of year. Believe it or not, I am cutting back ...that's hard to believe probably. But with some dental work that can't be postponed and is costing a small fortune, I have no choice but to hold the reins in a little this Christmas. Everyone will still get something but it won't be as elaborate as other years.

Soemthing interesting as far as this Christmas is that I have really very few things that I am even interested in buying for myself. That's normally not the problem. It is usually tryign to figure out what I want out of the 50 things I can list off the top of my head . This year, I have maybe 4 things on the list, and they are not necessarily things I want to spend on right now. So since my DH has been bothering me to figure out what I want, I decided to just buy some kitchenware that I will use. My Mom gave me a lovely little flan pan years ago, and I was pulling out pie pans to bake some pies for our Thanksgiving Dinner at church tomorrow. In teh process I came across this lovely little 8.5" pan, and thought I'd like to get some more of their pans. I'm kind of due for some new bakeware anyway, so that's what I did. Google is so helpful when it comes to tracking down brands and the best prices. I found this Kaiser brand bakeware on line and went to town. Found a few new and interesting things that I will enjoy using this CHristmas (we have our reunion after Christmas, so I can do some baking with my new toys). I have coming some new scallop edged rectangular cookie cutters, in different sizes, and the new flan pan, a very heavy loaf pan, and a interesting round bottom loaf pan that is kind of decorative. I"m sure I will find new ways to use that as well. Not too many items, but something I will definitely use over and over again. They will pay for themselves in a short time I'm sure. The place I purchased these items from is called Cookware.com

I hope you will take the tiem and visit their site, you'll have a ball!! I'm planning to go back and buy a few more things later on. Since I am in the process of reorganizingmy pantry and all the pots, pans, bakeware, etc., in my kitchen, it will be a good time to take inventory and see what I nee, or want to replace . Now Rog is happy -- he has the Christmas list thing taken care of -- he is not the shopper, so I have to come up with something that I can order on line, or pick up on my own in town. He then wraps them, and tells me I can't use any of it until after Christmas morning . This year I am going to spend more time just enjoying the real meaning of the season -- the Birth of Our Lord Jesus. I want to buy some nice things for family and bless them, but seriously, anymore, I find that it is hard to come up with anything I want becuase God has blessed us so much. I'm thankful....and I think it is always good to remember that giving is the reason for this season as well, not hoarding. HOpe you find a lot of great blessings under your Christmas tree or in your stocking this year, but I also hope you have a generous heart and give some nice things to others who are in need or who you just want to bless. IT's kind of early to say this, but Merry Christmas everyone!! And for those in the USA, Happy Thanksgiving, since that happens next Thursday! Rog is off and we are doing all sorts of things that need to be done, including seeing my oncologist for a follow up exam. But we also will be just spending time enjoying some peace and quiet, and taking time to thank God for the ways he has tkaen care of us all these years! God bless, everyone!!! Until next time...

Cathy