Tuesday, December 1, 2009

Christmas shopping: DONE

My goodness, it's December! And what better way to celebrate than by finishing off our Christmas shopping? We picked out and purchased gifts for Torsten's parents last night, thus completing our list. I now have presents for Torsten, my parents, my sister and her fiance, my sister's soon-to-be-stepkids, and Torsten's parents.

My sister and I are still working on picking out and purchasing joint gifts for a couple mutual friends, but for the most part, we are DONE. And I feel quite pleased about that. Also, I'm very excited about what I'm giving Torsten this year (even though the recliner we purchased is our real gift to each other). I got him a couple of small gifts, as well as an assortment of awesome stocking stuffers, and I can't wait to give them to him.

Also, yesterday I mailed out our holiday cards, and an old lady at the post office even complimented me on getting them out so early. It was sweet, but as I told her, it's our first year sending them out, so of course we're on the ball. It's if/when we mail them out a few years down the road that will REALLY be telling. (Though: perhaps we'll receive holiday cards from people we didn't send them to? In which case, maybe we'll send out a few reciprocal cards a bit later in the month? Is that rude, or a good thing to do?)

AND we bought a gravy boat. I'm feeling very grown up over this. Because, let's face it: only grown-ups use gravy boats. Right? Even if they only cost $8. But it's cute, right? Also, I kind of want the matching pitcher, but we don't need to spend $39 on that right now. Or should I say, more firmly, we need NOT to spend $39 on that right now. Tragically.


I'm feeling good, though. I'm down another few pounds over the last couple of weeks, thus FINALLY ending the jean-size limbo I was in, where every pair of jeans I found was either too big or too small. This weekend Torsten and I went to Old Navy and I found not one but TWO pairs of jeans that fit me perfectly, AND were on super sale, AND I had a coupon, so I ended up making out for super cheap, which is perfect for these transitional sizes where the jeans will only fit for a month or two.

So, you know. Jeans that fit. Holiday cards mailed out. Holiday shopping done. Christmas tree set up. All little things, but they feel really good.

It's just been a good year, you know? I know that 2009 has been very difficult for a lot of people, and that most people are really super ready for the year to be over. And I totally sympathize with that, and feel terrible about all the difficult situations that so many of my friends are facing at the moment.

But, personally, for us, it was such a big year. I can't even believe how far we are now from where we were when this year started, and in such a good way. I just hope that 2010 will be as great for everyone as 2009 was for us.

19 comments:

  1. I am in utter awe that you've finished your gift shopping for the season. I have lists of what we're getting for some people (not all), but I'm not even close to having started. Maybe I should get on the ball this weekend...

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  2. You are WAY too on top of things this year!!! Congrats!!

    (We own a gravy boat, but I think I have used it about three times.)

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  3. I'm so jealous that you've finished your shopping. I've barely started!

    Congrats on the new jeans! Cheap and cute is the holy grail, isn't it?

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  4. Also, I don't own a gravy boat. But I do have a crystal cake pedestal with matching knife/cake server. Does that count toward grown-upness?

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  5. Hooo boy, now I feel lazy! I've just been staring at my computer for two days, wishing for husband, and waiting for words to come (stupid revisions!).

    Not sure when the xmas shopping will occur... need to get on it!

    2009 was ridiculously awesome for me and my family, and I feel guilty about it sometimes - I've also got my fingers crossed hard for everyone for good things in 2010

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  6. I am so lazy...I've bought exactly one Christmas gift so far. I spent Black Friday buying stuff for myself, including cute and cheap Old Navy jeans! They were having some great deals so I'm glad you got to take advantage of that as well.

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  7. Did you buy something for Montana? My dog has (thus far) a chew apart Christmas cracker that is stuffed with dog treats and a bag of treats. I'll likely get him some squeeky balls too and perhaps (if I have room left in his stocking) a soft toy to rip apart.

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  8. It's good to know you have a great year. A lot of people I know haven't even started christmas shopping or sending holiday cards. You're right though, better get it early before it gets too crowded :)

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  9. I'm impressed! I have just a few gifts left to get, but I haven't started our holiday cards yet. We still need to take a good picture for them.

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  10. That's a lovely gravy boat.

    It was a good year for us too, even as we watched a lot of other people get totally slammed by 2009. We've been spared (so far!) and good stuff abounds at Chez Cheung.

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  11. Good for you on all accounts! Merry December 1st.

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  12. Way to go! I'm doing pretty well in the gifts department, but I still have a ton to do, including my holiday cards, baking for fundraisers and ourselves, making little crafts for fundraisers, planning Lisa's birthday party... I'm hoping to have everything done by December 18th (my last day of work until the new year), so I can just chill for 2 weeks!

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  13. I send out reciprocal cards as needed, and it doesn't bother me when others do the same to us.

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  14. 2009 has been a pretty good year for us too, even if we are major procrastinators and haven't even purchased our cards yet! I wish I was as on the ball as you! :)

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  15. huh... iguess i should start thinking about christmas gifts, then?

    and probably i should buy some xmas cards while i'm at it. stupid december happening already.

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  16. Done with Christmas shopping and sending out cards? That's fabulous!

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  17. I was just telling Mike we needed a gravy boat of our very own. I love the one you got!

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  18. You're being very good about the pitcher. It's so pretty!

    I'm one of those people who's had a bad year, since November of last year in particular. I am really, strongly hoping that the next year will be better, mainly because I honestly don't see how I could take more bad. But! I am still happy for you that your year was so great.

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  19. I am NEVER SURE about reciprocal cards! The worst are the ones where their card arrives on, like, December 22nd, so it's really obvious that you're reciprocating if you send a card back. In those cases I typically add the person to my card list for the NEXT year. If their card arrives more like on the 14th, then I send one, figuring they have no idea when I send my cards out.

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