Happy Non-Denominational Giftmas and/or Day Off Work!

[cleolinda]

Lots of sad and serious things in the news today, but I don't really know how to talk about all of that this point. All I can say about the Detroit incident is that I'm going to focus on the positive and be glad that the bomb didn't go off, it's a Christmas miracle, etc.

I was really tense all day, but Christmas went reasonably well. I got my mother a scone pan, some mixes, and Super Special Cinnamon from Thailand, I Don't Know, and juliamac's dad's book, Game Changers, since she's a huge Alabama fan; she seemed really pleased with both of them. She had been going through the King Arthur Flour catalogue, idly pointing out things she liked, and I was all, eh, scones, whatever, that's kind of meh, cinnamon, don't know why you need it from Thailand, psh, don't know who here would eat scones OMG DON'T BUY IT FOR YOURSELF, DON'T BUY IT FOR YOURSELF. Reverse psychology seems to have worked, and she was surprised when she got to that box--the big one in the picture below.

You can't possibly guess what color
my wrapping paper was.

My sister was flipping through the Ellowyne catalogue, and as far as I could gather, she liked this one the best, so I got it for her. We did end up getting my stepfather a Kindle, which I think kind of baffled him at first (it was a surprise, not something he had asked for), but he started getting more enthused when more family came over and everyone began to ooh and aah over it. The dogs (who actually have little stockings with their pictures on top) got bones.

 

HAY GUYS

Me, I got the Faeries Oracle cards with the Brian Froud artwork that I had really wanted, a fragrant mess of soaps from Lush (because my mother was like, look, I don't want to give you something randomly chosen from Bath & Body Works that you don't even want; get something you like and consider it a gift card used in advance), and some indulgence in my love of (inexpensive) jewelry. Apparently turquoise is Pantone's Color of the Year for 2010, so I'm already on top of that.

Also, a Lindt milk chocolate Santa, who is no longer with us.

And I was sincerely, ridiculously excited to get a couple of art glass coasters for my desk (you may remember the Giant Rust Spot of Doom on the metal file cabinet beside my desk where I always set my iced tea):

Then for dessert, we had Texas chocolate cake (don't ask me, I don't know) and nectar hibiscus cake, aka "hummingbird cake." It's got cherries, pecans, coconut, and a cream cheese frosting, but neither hibiscus nor hummingbird in it. Again, I don't know.

 

And then they told me to stop playing with my iPhone while family was over. The end.

So: what was your favorite present, and/or what did you do today?


Oh, P.S. I put up A Very Shelfy Christmas, Part 1 yesterday.

Comments

[melissa-actress.livejournal.com]

I got a Kindle today as well. Which is awesome because I am someone who, while packing for a trip, sits on the floor trying to narrow down the pile of 12 paperbacks down to 5 to take...and will sacrifice clothing in order for more book room in the suitcase. So, squeee!

Played a little golf with my dad and about to put the totally-from-scratch-dutch-apple-pie in the oven for dessert.

Those coasters are gorgeous!

Merry Christmas!

[friggeng.livejournal.com]

Oh, that Ellowyne is CUTE.

My favorite present was definitely my Tonner Snow White, who I would of probably never gotten if I hadn't read SLOD, haha, so thank you for that.

[wenelda.livejournal.com]

So: what was your favorite present, and/or what did you do today?

HBP on DVD (knew I was getting that, but I still loved seeing it wrapped and under the tree), and SHERLOCK HOOOOOOLMESSSS. Which is as brilliant (and more than) as everyone thinks. Of course, I am a Guy Ritchie and a Mark Strong fangirl, so I was rather bound to like this movie (hell, I even like Revolver, so what does that tell you?), but OMG IT IS BRILLIANT. Only a great abuse of capslock and exclamation marks will express my true love for this movie, but I will refrain from doing so here.

[kittybacklash.livejournal.com]

My favourite gift was a hot water bottle with a russian doll cover. She is adorable and a good replacement for my beloved devil. Now I wish I'd gotten one of your inexplicable cakes as well, though O_O

[caitlen.livejournal.com]

I spent it with no family around for the 2nd year in the row, and this year was better than last year. I watched old movies all day, after being supremely lazy in the morning, and cooked a ham (from a piece of pickled pork, a la Nigella Lawson's "Ham in Coke") from scratch all afternoon. We ate most of it in the evening :D It was MADE of win.

I got a wireless electronic weather station that is like THE MOST AWESOME XMAS PRESENT EVER! I don't even have a proper spot for it all outside, but you can bet your bottom dollar that didn't stop me from putting it all together and most of it up and outside!! I can now tell you how fast the wind is (OK in our courtyard, not actually how fast it's going in the rest of the town) and what temperature it is (we had a COOL xmas! in the teens (celcius) all day!), all without having to go outside! It's made of win and was completely unexpected and I'm stoked :) (My Mum sent me normal xmas stuff like new pajamas and a diary and a nice scarf, and a necklace that has my name on it, so I'll never manage to forget that now. . . but I love it anyway.) My partner didn't give me a physical present (we don't give them, despite my reverent wish that we DID - I love giving pressies) but gave me a present in the way he didn't whine about it being xmas ALL DAY (he hates it. I think it's something to do with the fact that everyone follows along with it, you "have" to see family, which he hates doing, and that a bunch of his family passed around xmas.)

[darksumomo.livejournal.com]

As someone who has adopted Metro Detroit as his home town (I've been here 20 years, but am originally from Los Angeles), I agree with you 100% about how to handle today's news. Figures it would happen here.

Love the gifts you got and received. I'm glad everyone enjoyed them.

As for me, my Christmas present consisted of the company of my new bride for our first Christmas together as man and wife. She cooked the best roast beef and garlic mashed potatoes, complete with her secret ingredient of love. The gravy she made from scratch was the best we've ever eaten. We didn't need anything else.

Merry Christmas!

[cleolinda.livejournal.com]

Did you get the one in the classic dress, or in the patchy dress?

[cleolinda.livejournal.com]

I yearn to see it--huge Sherlock Holmes fan over here, and it looks like so much fun that I don't even care if it's "accurate" or not, which it so obviously isn't--but I didn't get to go.

[inkytwist.livejournal.com]

I got a portable DVD drive for my netbook (OMG WATCHING MOVIES FINALLY IT'S BEEN SO LONG) and also lots of chocolate. And a couple of Lucky bracelets and an address book. I love seeing and hearing about everyone's gifts, it's so fun! :D

[beachlass.livejournal.com]

Favorite present - probably the sparkly bracelet from my daughter.

My parents and brother came yesterday, and slept over, and we had presents and eventually breakfast (in the afternoon) and the more food for supper. And then they went home, and we're flaked out for a bit, and going to watch a movie.

Also - Nigella Lawson's recipe for maple glazed parsnips is absolutely awesome.

And my mother brought a Christmas tree made of rice crispie squares.

[chulacabra.livejournal.com]

Our big to do was last night when we went to see a holiday concert featuring a rocking Klezmer band, a jazz dance troupe and several choirs, all hosted by Tia Carrere, who stopped every five minutes to adjust her rack (she still looks damned good for 42). Today was gift opening with my son (TRAINS! TRAINS!) and we've just polished off ham, mashed potatoes and green beans. So all in all, a mellow but happy Christmas.

[cleolinda.livejournal.com]

Oh, I love Lucky jewelry. In fact, I think the silver/turquoise earrings might have been from them.

[clodia-risa.livejournal.com]

Today I was in Michigan, home alone. My husband was at work and all my family was in Alabama. I read fanfiction and finally finished the Annotated Wizards M15M while snacking on sweettarts and leftover ham. It was a really nice day.

[clodia-risa.livejournal.com]

My comment on Detroit: I have a layover there next week. It's gonna suuuuuuuuuuuuuuuck.

[scarolinagrl.livejournal.com]

I've been dying to try LUSH's stuff for a while, sadly, there's not a store near me. My parents were in NYC last week and went by the store and had a box of stuff shipped to me. I cannot WAIT to start using it.

Do you have a favorite LUSH product?

[wenelda.livejournal.com]

Even my mother loved it, and if Alan Rickman isn't in the film you knock your chances down to 40% that she'll like the movie. It's very entertaining, and the banter between Holmes and Watson is great. I think RDJ and Jude Law had excellent chemistry between them. Rachael McAdam's character was cool too, in my opinion. Normally "co-lead" (aka romantic interest) female characters like her annoy me because they're only there as romantic fodder, but she pulled off being a character of her own, too.

[apocalypticbob.livejournal.com]

My favorite present was this corset (http://www.pendragoncostumes.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=steampunk&Product_Code=clasp_corset&Category_Code=women), which much like your LUSH was purchased by me and Mom then told me it was my Christmas present. Merry Christmas indeed!!

[aymaera.livejournal.com]

The best present I got omg it isn't even real yet and I don't care I'm so excited - My mother is making me this dress:



She went to a place in the states that sells end of the bolt remnants and got SEVENTEEN METERS OF BLUE VELVET OMG. Plus EVEN MOAR to make a black cloak for it.

I'm a member of the SCA and it's going to be ready for our Twelfth Night event and it's going to be amazing.

[cleolinda.livejournal.com]

I LOOOOOVE the Honey I Washed the Kids soap, and have a little tin of the solid perfume as well. And at Christmas the last couple of years I've tried to stock up on Snow Fairy stuff, which they only sell in the winter--the shower gel, the Godmother soap, and another solid perfume. I also got the Snowcake soap and the Rock Star soap, but I've never tried them before. Strong florals give me headaches, so I go for stuff that smells like candy, really.

[inkytwist.livejournal.com]

My bracelet is this super sweet charm bracelet with a couple of lotus flowers (yay!), a dragon (SUPER YAY) and a couple of peace signs (woo?).

I think I might have to start collecting Lucky jewelry... it's so much fun!

[tabbyclaw.livejournal.com]

My mother had an Ursula Vernon print I bought earlier this year professionally framed. And Dad bought her a Wii (well, Dad handed me his credit card and said "I don't know anything about this thing; you order it!"), which is kind of going to end up being a present for everyone.

[snippy]

We had presents weeks ago, being Jewish, and I got an omnibus edition of the first three Vampire's Assistant books because I liked the movie.

Today we saw Sherlock Holmes which I liked but wished was more slashy. And now I want a crossover of Sherlock Holmes and A Room With a View (which I watched again yesterday), so that Cyril Vyse (Daniel Day Lewis) goes to Dr. Watson about an ailment and stumbles into an investigation which he ruins, and then gets whipped soundly by Holmes.

[scarolinagrl.livejournal.com]

I think in my box there's a Snow Fairy shower gel and a Snowcake soap. there's a stack of other soaps and some kind of Karma Kream and several bubble bars, etc.

My parents really went way beyond my hopes. I just wanted a bar of soap!

[tabbyclaw.livejournal.com]

OMG indeed!

[jharrison19.livejournal.com]

I got raybans and a seagull TLR! Yay vintagey stuff!