I can't find the Christmas Decorations!

It's been over 2wks and they still haven't turned up.

You know when you go to the place you remember leaving something and it's not there

and instead of panicking and tearing the place asunder

you take a deep breathe, walk away & then casually & calmly go about your business,

with one eye trained for the slightest (in my case) shimmer or glimpse of red.

(a Regina Dudek Beaded Wire Star gifted 10yrs ago which lives in that antique bottle on the kitchen sill - the fimo Koala was found around the same time in an Oppy)

I also seem to be in festive denial.

I'm blaming it on the new Christmas Tree - old decorations hate new trees

and Dan not being here on the day - old habits die hard

and the girls getting older -

did you know it's way harder to buy for 19 & 11yrs olds than

it was when they were 1 & 9, that and it's more expensive.

Mangoes are cheap.

Most days you'll find me sitting in the garden eating them,
thinking I should be out there pushing a trolley round some shopping centre.

While enjoying my Mangoes & bemoaning the cost of Christmas
I've come up with a new present giving idea to add to the regimen -

starting this year we'll each give each other the gift of time.

First comment out of both girls mouths was, "but what about Santa" -

my kids would quite happily forgo baked ham, pavlova & presents
if they could still get their Santa Sacks
at the end of their beds.

Anyway the idea is that you choose 3 things
you would like to do with the other person,
not have them do for you
because as I've said in the past there's no slaves in this house!
The reason for 3 things is because you only get one gift of time

so some negotiating will need to occur

and as I'm writing the word 'negotiating' I'm thinking this wont work...

anyway

I started the ball rolling with Stella by painting her bedroom door with Chalkboard paint.

Eliza has requested I go shopping with her - purely in a consultative capacity

and I'm pretty sure Dan will be wanting the same 3 things.

Have a very Merry Christmas

and if you can find the time

eat a Mango in the garden.

Op Shop Swap Goodies

My parcel from Julie

arrived today.

I love everything in it

and am especially pleased she

included one of her stitched cards.

Thankyou to my fellow OpShopSwappers
for joining in and making this such a success.
I'm looking forward to doing it again in the New Year.

For a look at what some of the others

received in their parcels pop over here.

Merry Christmas!

OP Shop Swap Posting Day is TODAY!

I've had fun finding, working out & creating treasure

for my OP Shop Swap Christmas Parcel

and today, being 21/11, the designated posting day for said parcel,

it's time to check details, like

 the address of my partner

before shutting & sealing the santa sack

for, in my case, its journey to the other side of the world.

  

This is a hectic time of year for most

and the idea behind posting our parcels today 

was so that we'd have one less thing to think about 

before having to think about our own Christmases.

Let your partner know how you are going with regard an EPD (estimated postal date) 

by leaving a message here, on our Flickr site or by emailing them directly. 

By signing up for the Swap we all made a commitment to another person

and the key/secret to any successful relationship is

communication.

Please don't forget or dismiss posting photos of your loot 

over on the Flickr Site 

cos it'll be lonely round that Christmas Tree without you!