Christmas is here again!

Right after Thanksgiving was over, I was ready to bring on the Christmas spirit. I'm usually not so gung-ho about Christmas right from the get-go, but once the turkey was gone I was excited to decorate and shop.

I think part of the reason for my November 27 cheer is that I've been focusing on a lot of holiday-themed communications for the past month or so at work, and that has kept Christmas on my radar. Needless to say, all the decorations are up in our apartment and have been for a week.

I'm also in good shape with my Christmas shopping. I even have some wrapped gifts under the tree and I don't think that has ever happened that early.

Here are a few of my go-to gift suggestions for this year:

* Personalized photo gifts: The 2009 Snapfish calendar that I made for my aunt was such a hit that I'm making another one this year. This gift is personal, fun, functional and affordable. Snapfish has great deals going on now until Christmas. I've found that it's so easy to find great family photos to use because of the photos shared on Facebook or blogs. And if you don't have enough photos to create a calendar, Snapfish offers a number of great items that can be personalized like mugs, ornaments or posters.

* Gifts that give back: A number of charities like the Make-A-Wish Foundation, The Jimmy Fund and St. Jude's offer great gifts and cards that include a donation to the organization in the purchase price. So you're not just buying a gift, you are also contributing to a cause. I think it makes a gift thoughtful, especially for big-hearted friends.

* Books: I think books are always a thoughtful gift, especially when someone has taken the time to pick out a book that matches the reader's interests or was something he or she enjoyed and wanted to share. The key with making a great choice when choosing a book for someone is finding that book about a topic you think the recipient would enjoy -- there is a book out there for every interest! I also love to write a little inscription on the inside cover whenever I give a book as a gift.


(Note: although I proclaimed last year that I am a real-tree advocate, our little $5 fake Walmart tree is just fine and looks lovely in our reading corner. I still love real trees and intend on having them in the future, but not when we live on the top floor of a dry-air, carpeted apartment!)

On the Hunt for Uggs

So, I know I'm a little late hopping on the Uggs bandwagon (about 7 years late), but I recently decided that I would like a pair of the fuzzy boots from Down Under.

This is proving to be somewhat difficult since it's the middle of winter, post-Christmas and Uggs are sold out all over the place.

I have secretly wanted a pair for a few years, but didn't admit it since I thought Uggs were just some fad. My initial reaction was that Uggs were ugly and wouldn't be around for long. I remember seeing them on campus and thought they were ridiculous and overpriced. I refused to participate in an expensive, over-hyped fashion trend.

Well, I was wrong.

Fast-forward a few years later and Uggs are still around. They're super comfortable and actually practical in a cold, wintry city like Boston. Sure, they make your feet look huge and give you cankles, but I don't care. I've admitted that I want a pair and the Birthday Fairy said I can get some for my b'day (a few months early).

Now I just have to find them. But I've only just begun my search and I'll find that pair of Uggs with my name on them.

Photo from Nordstrom.com