Merry Christmas!

Today's Agenda: Reflect. Rejoice. Renew.

I just finished watching "A White House Christmas" on HGTV.  It was amazing to see all the effort taken to decorate the White House for Christmas and how beautiful and classy it all looked. 

  {Pause another moment to check out these magnolia leaves!}

The tree in the Blue Room (check out the link for WH Christmas trees throughout the years!) has these large structural gold ribbons with decoupage ornaments reflecting each US state hanging on the tree and some of them adorned with blue and white embroidered tags that show this year's White House Christmas theme -- "Reflect" or "Rejoice" or "Renew".  I think it was a perfect sentiment for this time of year -- no matter what your religion is, your traditions are or where you are physically or in life. 

So, I'm off to reflect, rejoice and renew.  And, just enjoy. 

{Before we head out of town, here are some pictures from our holiday so far -- it was thrown a bit off kilter by the snowpocalypse that outshone, or, really, outsnowed, the cocktail party I had planned for my husband's birthday but I still enjoyed setting everything up and planning and a few friends that braved the snow and the metro!  And I loved putting up our tree this year and pulling out old Holiday CDs my law school roommates had made for me in 2003!  And, today I'll enjoy one last day with all the holiday decorations before we head down to celebrate with my mom and sister with the milk punch another great friend from law school made in tow!}

Go For a Trip To the Amazon...

.com that is! Still need some gift ideas? Can't bear driving to the "mall"?

There are lots of places to go to grab some great gifts -- your local museum, the bookstore, local theatre or concert arena for tix to upcoming events, local restaurants.  But a lot of those require driving to and from each place in the middle of crazy traffic (and possibly snow!).  Let's see what we can find on Amazon and have it still make it "there" in time for Christmas...still two days left to get free super saver shipping!  I know we can get it all of your shopping done, in one place, over a cup of coffee before work, while on that 2 hour conference call or with a glass (just one though to be productive!) of wine after work.

I first looked in "Today's Deals" on Amazon. Assassin's Creed for PS3 and Xbox 360 came up. If that's on your list or someone you are buying for then you should know it is now 34% off. It's not exactly what I was thinking of though. Let's keep looking.

1 // Magazines - Best for Parents, Grandparents, Friends, Significant Others

Who doesn't love a good magazine? And with more and more disappearing, I feel like I am coveting and enjoying mine even more. Here are a few that your loved ones and friends may enjoy. Plus, these are all $5 off the Amazon listed price!  Lots more titles/subjects based on what your giftee likes -- Golf, sewing, economics...you name it!

Dwell

Food and Wine

Travel & Leisure

Mac Life

2 // Watches - Best for Significant Others, Parents (maybe)
It's classy, necessary, and a significant gift if you are just looking to give one nice gift.  You do need to know the person's style though...

A little vintage

Classic

Running

3 // Books - Best for everyone!

I feel like Christmas is a great time to give books.  After the excitement of opening up gifts, having Christmas brunch or dinner and catching up with your family and friends, how nice would it be to curl up in a cozy corner with hot chocolate and peruse your new book!

For the Cook

For the Economist/Conspiracy Theorist

For the Little One

4 // Electrics

If you are looking for one big gift or a bigger gift and a couple smaller ones for someone these would be great.  Especially if you know they have been wanting something special...

 For the Chef

More for the Chef

And some more "chefness"

For the blogger

For the new parent (or grandparent!)

5 // Bags

Most of us travel a lot and can always use a new bag.  These are great because they don't take up any room and are brands most people love. 

For the traveler

Cool bag

A classic

For the person who has everything

6 // For the Home

Most people love to update some of the home items they have.  Or add to their collection.  But don't buy anything you either don't know if they need or that you wouldn't want yourself!

Update your Parents' Wine Glasses

For the cheese enthusiast

For the kids (okay, this looks like enough fun for adults too...)

7 // Stocking stuffers!

Whatever you do, please don't forget these!  And, anything counts here!

Zester

Pocket Knife

Tights

 Travel Flat Iron

Favorite team's ball cap

{Also, if you run into this problem again, shoot me an email, I love shopping for other people and I'm planning on it being part of the services I offer for my business in addition to design services (essentially, designing gift selections!) so would be happy to take your list, hit the stores, wrap everything up and make it that much easier for you to cross it off your list!}