Merry Christmas

This is the third and final installment of Christmas Rhyme Time with Caroline. I've written many others, but ya gotta know when to say when ;) Besides, I still have to get started on 2009's poem!!!

This poem I wrote in 2005 after I had my twins. They're almost five and sooooooo excited this year for Christmas. I'm not sure we are going to make it through the day...

It’s been a different year,
What, with twins and all.
No more “quick stops” at Target
Or long trips to the mall.

With the holidays approaching
I needed a better plan --
I’m not nearly as mobile
With two more kids in our clan.

I tried on-line shopping
A sort of “cyber St. Nick”
All of my gift shopping done
With just a few easy clicks.

JCrew, Amazon
Toys R Us and more!
All of my favorite dot coms
Delivered right to my door.

The postman, the FedEx guy –
They all brought my things.
Everyday was like Christmas
Each time my doorbell would ring.

The mall at my fingertips.
My shopping done in no time.
But the best part of all:
No crowds and no lines.

It’s amazing what you can accomplish
While your little ones take naps.
Who knows – maybe next year?
I’ll even get it gift wrapped.

Another rhyme...

Time for poem number two. I wrote this one in 2001, after my first son Will was born. He's almost nine now...

CHRISTMAS PAST

Christmas of yesterday

Was quite a different story

A husband and a dog

Were my only two worries.

Office gatherings, parties....

What should I wear?!

Jewelry and makeup

And don't forget hair!

Holiday hangovers

From a nip of the nog

And shopping at Petsmart

To get gifts for the dog.

Up late Christmas Eve

Sleeping in Christmas Day

Presents galore!

The VISA I'll pay.

It sounds pretty good

And certainly not a bore

But I started to feel that

I wanted something more...

CHRISTMAS PRESENT

Along came a baby

In March of '01

Who made the holidays more special

And certainly more fun.

Now time is a premium

But what really matters?

More ease or more joy?

I'd much take the latter.

I still have all the baking

And the presents to wrap

But unlike before

I do it all while he naps.

Big gifts may be less

And budgets may be tighter,

But the tree seems much prettier

And the lights shine much brighter.

Traditions are more meaningful

Simple things bring more joy

Christmas is more Merry now

Because of one little boy.

CHRISTMAS FUTURE

The meaning of Christmas?

It has become very clear

And it will only get better

Year after year.

Christmas Time Rhyme

Every year (well, most every year;) I write a little holiday poem for my family. Writing has always been my first love and this is just a way for me to share my thoughts at the holidays.

This first "poem" I wrote back in 1998 -- pre-kids! I will try to share a rhyme each day this week... Enjoy!

A Woman's Version of Christmas

Well, it starts in November

With the holiday sales

And browsing through catalogs

To shop through the mail.

Next comes the decorating

It's time to deck the halls,

And the mantles and the staircases

And every inch of the walls.

Then it's hours of baking

Enough for a crowd

Twelve batches of cookies --

Martha Stewart would be proud.

We sew homemade stockings

And make holiday crafts

We bake breads and make fudge

Just about anything from scratch.

Did I mention the cards?

The hundred plus we send

And the "small" gatherings we host

For family and friends.

We wrap all the presents

Make our own holly wreaths

And in the middle of all that

Prepare the Christmas Day feast.

And as much as we want

To cut back, to start over

We'll do the same thing next year

But start in October.

A Man's Version of Christmas

Hang the lights on the house

Spend an hour at the mall

There's more cookies than usual

And two straight weeks of football.

Glutton for Glitter

My sister and I hit the mall today for some final holiday shopping. No kids, coffees in hand, hours to ourselves. It was bliss.

Before departing the mall, we decided to hit Forever 21. If you have not been to Forever 21, it's like walking into a club, but with the lights up. Booming music, glitz and young girls everywhere. And although I tend to skew a little higher in age than the average customer, I must say I have to at least peek at their accessories. So much fun.

Of course, I couldn't go home empty handed. I'm like a cat when it comes to shiny objects -- especially anything with glitter or sequins. Don't get me wrong. I grew up in the "preppy era" and still worship the fashion gods of J Crew. But all girls need a little touch of sparkle.

I scored the above belt for $2.50. That's not a typo or a sale price. The photo does not do it justice. It is a shimmery bronze and almost exactly like the one you'll find at the aforementioned favorite of mine, J Crew, but for a tenth of the price.

Next up, a sequined tank in very a classic navy and black rugby stripe. This will look so fab under a black blazer and paired with jeans and boots. The price: $7. Yes, it was on sale and for that price I should have bought ten and worn them as pj's, but Colorado's a little chilly this time of year.

So for less than ten bucks, looks like I'm going to have a shiny new year. Merry Christmas to me!

Magazine Junkie

I love to read. In fact, just had book club with the girls last night (we read "South of Broad" by Pat Conroy). Books will always be my first love, but magazines are my constant companions.

I think I subscribe to about 20 magazines. What I don't receive in my mailbox at home I usually read second-hand from someone else, or while getting the hair or nails done. This can be a bit of a problem when you're perusing the shelves at the airport book store for a good distraction and realize you already have read/seen every single issue.

Of course I lean heavily toward fashion and interiors, but I do get magazines that I can actually read, and my dad passes on his copies of The New Yorker to me when he's done.

Just got my copy of W in the mail today. I like W because it is quite different from most fashion mags (larger format, bizarre photography...) but I just LOVED this issue. There was an amazing 20 page spread just on the Spring '10 fashion lines alone. I was like a kid in an eye-candy store. This one is a keeper and will not be making the rounds to female friends, or the recycle bin.

Winter Wonderland

Check back with me in about a month, and I so won't be singing this tune. But currently in Colorado it is frigid (9 degrees F), frosty (it snowed off and on yesterday) and fantastic (more light snow to come). I love it.... right now.

Our Thanksgiving was 70 degrees F and sunny. So not my style. And the sad thing is, I host Easter every year for my large family and it is usually 40-50 degrees F and possibly wet. So right now I am loving this wintery weather for our holiday season. It is picture perfect. We finally got it right! :)

Moving from weather to weddings, as you know by now, I sell upcycled cardigans. Awhile ago I did a post about wearing a cardigan with your wedding gown. I have actually sold some white and cream embellished cardigans that are going to be worn by a bride or someone in the bridal party. I found another fabulous photo to showcase the look:

So how does this all tie together? I actually have a sweater on my Etsy shop named "Winter Wonderland" and it would be the perfect little cover up for the bride, or her party, or even guest. I'd keep it -- I just don't have any weddings on the horizon. Hurry up and grab it if you do...

Flowers in December?

Let me explain. We are experiencing frosty temps and snow in Colorado -- which really is quite lovely for the holiday season. But sometimes you need a little pretty pick-me-up.

This post is dedicated to someone I know who is recovering from knee surgery, and she is also a wonderful gardener. So to lift her spirits a little (and give her something new to look at ;) I wanted to spread a little spring flowers among the holiday holly and mistletoe.

Aaaaah.... now back to snow and winter wonderlands...

These pictures came from my dear friend Mary Jane, whose brother grows amazing flowers up in the Northwest. Everyday he sends a pic to his family -- their daily "flower-gram".