Loving that Christmas Bustling . . .

I need to start my Christmas cards. I've sent out family cards, but that's it. I don't even know who to send cards to anymore. (My list has been shrinking over the years.)

To try to get into the holiday spirit, I figured I'd run out and do some quick holiday shopping yesterday morning. Turns out I spent more on ME! I bopped into Target with a specific mission. Well, they didn't have what I wanted, but I still ended up spending $50 on stuff I HAD to have.

I bought four more Christmas CDs. (This is a basic necessity of life. There can never be too many Christmas CDs lounging around old Ivy Bend.) One of them is very different from anything I have--music from around the world featuring Spanish flamenco guitar, Cuban Rumba, Hawaiian folk and Caribbean reggae. (Copied that last bit right off the liner notes.)

I really did need that glitter toenail polish, too, you know. And the candle warmer (because I just spent an ungodly amount of money on a candle that smells like lemon squares and I don't want to burn it because the cats are attracted to flames). And new lights for home office. I mean, I had to get them NOW because where are you going to find white lights in the middle of summer should you ever need them? Oh, and snowflake Post-it notes. Had to have them. And I had to get Mom's dog a present, didn't I?

So, have you found you've shopped more for yourself than those on your list?

SHOPPING FUN!

Last week on my travels, I made it to Batavia, NY-- home of Oliver's Own Make Candy to stock up for Easter. Yum-yum! Boy, was it crowded! Seems like everybody else had the same idea.

As it was a gorgeous, sunny day, I decided to explore a bit and found a wonderful little shop called Present Tense Book & Gift Shop. What a delight. They had all kinds of goodies, including these marvelous hand-made, fabric purses. Did I buy one? No! It wasn't until I got home that I kicked myself. (Ouch!) They had a nice selection of books, but not many paperbacks. Lots of lovely handmade candles and soaps, teas and coffees, and other specialty items.

Next time I head that way to stock up on candy, I'll make sure I stop at Present Tense, too.