Family Dynamics,  General Lunacy

Post-Christmas Re-Cap: Whaja Get?

Don’t you hate this weird time between Christmas and New Year’s? You’re still in vacation mode, but you have to show up to work and act like you aren’t contemplating a nap and polishing off the remaining Christmas cookie tray as soon as you get the chance? Plus you’re sick from all the hustle and bustle and not taking your vitamins and eating like a trucker driving through the deep south, so all you are capable of is catatonic sleep with your eyes open?

*Sigh,* me too.

On a more positive note, I got some pretty memorable gifts, which I thought I would share with you all because that’s how you extend the joys of the season: by recapping the highlights. Not by wondering how you spent all your free time in a haze of gluttonous pie-consumption and jumping from house-to house in the annual relative-visitation and squabbling marathon (honestly, I can’t think of a higher-stress time of year – except maybe for Groundhog Day. That will-he-or-won’t-he just annihilates me.)

. . .

*Snort.* What? Where am I? Oh, sorry about that, I just nodded off for a moment.

. . .

Anywho, take a look at these beauties:

I’ve already worn them all.

It was a sock year for our dear Cat Lady, courtesy of Mike. I go through interesting sock phases every so often, and this year it’s totally on. Partially to distract others from the fact that I’ve pretty much stopped wearing heels to work. Ouchie, my foots protesteth.

Mike also got me these, and I’m a little over-excited about them. As in, even though they were the wrong size, I still wore them on Christmas day, then exchanged them the next day for the correct size.

Photo from the TOMS shoes website. You can’t tell from the picture, but they sparkle just a little. That’s the way I like my sparkle. Subtle, yet sparkly.

I usually shy away from anything too popular, but 1.) they were terribly cute and perfect for me, and 2.) they do good for the world, so I’m being trendy in the name of philanthropy. I may as well be accepting a damn Nobel Prize.

My husband also got me this stamp for my thirtieth.

If you’re easily offended, avert your eyes for a moment and I’m sorry sweetlings.

It’s official now!

I will be using this on all official Cat Lady documents* henceforth. This is why my husband is my most enthusiastic champion.

*Official documents at this time includes notes in the margins of my how-to-be-a-blogger books.

My sister-in-law, who is a die-hard dog-lover, gave me a book with a sub-title: Why Dogs Are Better Than Diamonds. Clearly, she gets me, because she knew I would find it hilarious despite my decidedly not being a dog-lover. I respect dogs. I like dogs. I just don’t want to touch/smell/care for them. My favorite line from the book?

“If a dog will not not come to you after having looked you in the face, you should go home and examine your conscience.” ~ Woodrow Wilson

True story, Woodrow – so true.

Also, this came from my little sis and her husband, who know me so well it’s scary.

It would be irresponsible of me *not* to own this book.

Whenever my nephew visits, I’ll make sure I read this to him. Boys need culture, too. They also need to know how the female mind works, so they won’t turn out like Wickham…not that my nephew ever would. He is made of shiny virtue and radiant sweetness.

Also, have you ever seen What about Bob? If you haven’t, I don’t understand how you’re getting half the jokes on this blog. Anyhow, remember this scene? (I promise this has a point):

I’m sailing! I sail ! I’m a sailor!

My brother-in-law admitted that I almost got a t-shirt saying “I’m a blogger! I blog! I blog now!” I would be wearing that shirt at work today if I had gotten it. Just another loss for the universe.

Well, at least now you know what to get me for my birthday next year.

I also got a few items off my wedding registry from last year, which is a-mazing because I don’t know how I’ve been living with so few towels and one set of sheets all this time. This item came from the registry and blew my socks off:

If you tilt your head slightly, you can hear angels singing a gentle chorus.

I promised Santa I would be good forever if only I got a French oven, and my wish came true. See, children – miracles do happen. Cavities happen too, so be sure to always brush your teeth.

(I’m trying to be a positive role-model for America’s Youth).

So, those were just a few of the gifts I got this year. What was the best gift you got? I love a good present-story-swap.

I assure you, anything you got was not better than this magnet, which appeared in my stocking. And I do. I do believe.

 

 

 

 

 

21 Comments

  • Jen

    OoOoh… I’m jealous of your oven. I would cook so much amazingly fattening deliciousness in that thing!

    We had a really small budget this year, so I got The Manchild a really nice Seahawks (football) coat he had wanted since he saw it at my holiday job. I got it for half off. Go me!
    He bought me a sparkly purple wallet with a zombie model on it, and a pair of squirrel underpants. I just found the downside to having an odd sense of humor and being funny all the time…
    Yesterday I bought me some new wine glasses and a few bottles to go with them 😉

    • Natalie the Singingfool

      This sounds like a successful Christmas to me! I am all about the deals. If I can get it on ebay, I will. And call me crazy, but your gifts sound hilarious! I would totally sport squirrel undies.
      I’m already stocking up on butter to make deliciously fattening yummies. I still can’t believe I own the French oven.

  • Amber

    Well, I got a few cool things. I got a PartyLite air freshener that I had actually intended to buy for myself but my mother turned into a present (which was nice). I talked about getting a recipe box, so my mom got me a recipe binder (which I actually prefer, it just surprised me that she knew that). Gift cards for things I needed from my parents and grandparents. And my aunt Patty, who I rarely talk to, got me a t-shirt that says “I’m not weird, I’m a limited edition”. Patty and I are not close, so I was a little surprised. And absolutely loved it. In fact, I’m wearing it right now! 😀 Oh!!! and my mom and brother got me a new container (along with extra stones) for my lucky bamboo :). I think that was my second favourite. Because I’ve been saying for months that I need to repot it :).

    • Natalie the Singingfool

      I love thoughtful gifts even more than expensive ones, personally, so I’d say you lucked out. My favorite gifts to open are the ones that tell me the person was thinking of me when they bought it. Like the P&P children’s book, or the coconut pancake mix from my sisters.
      Plus your t-shirt? I would completely wear it every day. I love stuff like that.

  • Chris Plumb

    I have a tee shirt that says: “Don’t Hassle Me I’m Local,” and nobody gets it. What About Bob should be mandatory high school viewing. Possibly right after something like Schindler’s List (it would break the tension).

    I got a Lego New Testament Bible. It features actual Lego set ups of every verse in the Bible. It is hilarious and reverent at the same time. Sadly, I’ve read more of the Bible via this book than in all my previous 33 years with the old standby.

    Happy belated birthday.

  • Winopants

    Love the oven, we got one from our friends last year, and we use it for everything!!
    We had a low key Christmas this year, with the idea that we will use the money for a trip. Not that I wasn’t secretly hoping for a boatload of presents anyways 😛 My best gifts were smore’s from Williams and Sonoma and some photography books

  • Lindsey

    So many…specific…things…in common…brain…exploding a little.

    I’m a sock whore. My husband knows how good he has it because I don’t wear much jewelry, and to make me silly happy he must only buy me some new argyle or stripy socks and office supplies. True story. This is probably going to be my next blog post now. Thanks for the inspiration.

    And I agree with Chris about ‘What About Bob?’ That and Groundhog Day are some of Mr. Murray’s finest work, in my humble opinion (did you get that reference?).

    My favorites this year are one particular pair of socks, and secret hiding place hollowed-out book for my bookshelf, and a freaking ice cream maker 🙂 I’m never going to get in shape!

    • Natalie the Singingfool

      I know!! Every time I read something of yours I don’t know where to start – so many similarities! Let me know when the post about socks goes up – just the thought makes me giddy. SOCKS!
      Yes, What About Bob? and Groundhog Day are my FAVORITES. I watch Groundhog Day every year on February 2nd – it’s a tradition. PS – I loved your reference. Totally caught it.
      I think your gifts this year are the best. SECRET BOOKSHELF HIDING SPOT? ICE CREAM MAKER? I…I don’t know what to say.

  • Enchanted Seashells

    You really scored this year, I’m very happy for you! You are going to love your cookware. I have some really old pieces in orange and they’re fantastic. Heavy, but awesome. I love your blog title! I got my very best gift in a zillion years and probably won’t have another present for our anniversary and my birthday cos it was so good. If you read my blog (I don’t think you have) you’d be so annoyed with me about how I LOVE Chanel. Well, my hubs got tired of me nagging him for one and that was my special gift, the Grand Shopper Tote that I had been drooling over. I def have been a VERY GOOD GIRL, if you know what I mean!

  • Ericamos

    I love your socks!! Besides my running ones, I don’t even own a pair of white socks. I’m super jealous of the 3rd pair in your picture. Besides how awesome they look, they’re like a Harry Potter-swirly ice cream sorbet hybrid. Just awesome.

    Besides my engagement ring that I’m super giddy about, some of my favorite gifts were real moose poop earrings, a faux taxidermy pygmy moose, and an old school lunchbox in TARDIS form. With gifts like that, there’s no chance of denying my quirky geekiness.

  • Kaylen

    I’m sailing! Thank you for posting that screen shot. It finally pushed us to buy the movie and we are watching it right now. I have thought about that movie more often than any other and yet I haven’t seen it in at least ten years. This was the best part of my day, behind finding out that my rent is not going up. Natti, it was a close second. Anyway. I love you and think your Christmas gifts and birthday gifts were particularly awesome this year. And, it makes me happy how well Mike knows you. So fun.

    • Natalie the Singingfool

      I don’t know how anyone could be in a bad mood while watching that movie. In fact, I’m due – it’s been many, many moons since I’ve seen it, too, and I certainly need a good laugh.
      And HOORAY FOR NO RENT INCREASE! That IS a reason to celebrate!

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