15 days

Well, we're closing in on two weeks before X-Mas. Our plans have been settled and shopping is still not finished. But we're going to shop Gordmans this year; very cool stuff, very inexpensive. I got four gifts for four very different women in my family for 14 bucks. 14 BUCKS! 4 presents!

Anywho, since I am starting to get that X-Mas giddy on, I thought I'd share some pictures of the ornaments my mother has given me over the years. She's a Hallmark fanatic. One year when I was putting up the tree a roommate said she couldn't believe how many of those ornaments I had and then informed me they were valuable. I was stunned. Really, painted, cast plastic, mass-produced, Hallmark ornaments are valuable? Who knew?

My first Hallmark collection is the Frosty Friends series (Eskimo and polar animal). I have all but the first one. This one's from 1983 (25 years ago, blows my mind). The baby harp seal is even covered in a velvety coat:



My all-time favorites are ones I have from the tree my mom put up when I was little. This is one of a handful I still have:



I also have the Lighthouse series, since I lived in Montauk, NY for a few years after undergrad. The Montauk Lighthouse was authorized under George Washington in 1792; it is beautiful and I was in a lighthouse phase for a while. Now, they just hang on the tree at X-Mas. This is the 2008 edition:



Another Hallmark series my mom got for me when I was in my tween years was Mother Goose. I have always been a bookworm and a writer, so they are fitting (and very sweet):

I remember my mom saying Christmas was for children; that it took her back to her childhood and holidays spent with her brother and sister, mother and father. It is a time of memories and family and traditions.

It's so true.

I'll be saying it many more times in the next two weeks (amidst my rants) but I hope all are enjoying the season in whatever way they see fit.

Cheers!