At this Christmas, my thoughts are with everyone who has the blessing s of a good family, loyal friends, a supportive significant other, and neighbors that share your values and outlook.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holdiays and all my best wishes for healthy, prosperous and happy new year in 2009.

When you are used to getting a parking spot just 3 or 4 spaces from the store entrance, it is annoying to have to shop at Christmas was the crowds and park 18-20 spaces down the aisle. When there are that many cars in the parking lot, it means there are twice that many people on the store. So its going to be crowded. The line at the register will be long and the time to check out will be longer. But the biggest gripe about Christmas shopping is the people who think it is OK to bump into you. I need my space and getting bumped and jostled is not fun.

Forgive me for admitting that I have watched Rachel Ray. I should not be at home in the morning when her show is on, but I went in late.

On this show she had Ty Pennington as a guest. He appears to be a personal friend of hers. But I’m not sure if he is really friends with her or is that is just her style of talking with guests on her show.

Ty was talking about packing a lunchbox and some tips about making sandwiches. Obviously, he said to not put sliced tomato on a sandwich that will be carried in a lunchbox because the tomato will make the bread soggy.

His tip that I like and had never thought of was to freeze your seedless grapes and put a small bunch in your lunchbox in a ziploc baggie and the coldness from the frozen grapes will help chill the rest of the lunchbox contents.

I have never put grapes in the freezer and don’t know why not. It seems to be a fun way to eat fruit and make it stay fresh longer, too. I don’t like to waste food and grapes are one thing that seem to go bad quickly and end up thrown out. So into the freezer they go!

One of my pet peeves with stores is that they sell a variety of fragrances but there is no way to find out what they smell like. If I don’t know what they smell like then I am not going to buy it.

I should not have to endure the crazy women in smocks at department store cosmetic counters to just learn what something smells like. How hard is it to put a small tester or scratch me strip of the fragrance on the box or on the counter so I can test these unfamiliar fragrances?

Although I was only able to take one year of art while in school, I have always loved the arts and crafts. I wish I had more time to express myself through artist mediums, but I just don’t. As a single mom and full time contract worker who travels extensively, I need help just keeping my household running smoothly. The little time I have for myself usually involves a a hair cut or salon visit for my nails. At least I have that.

A friend of mine gave me a bridesmaids gift of this beautiful modern ceramic called a “friendship house” that she found in a little boutique in Green Hills. I just love the style and I treasure her friendship, as well. These are made by a famous artist who lives in North Carolina, I think. His name is Holden McCurry. Mine has the little sliver of a moon on the roof because she and I are such night owls!