Miguelina

Tropical lights

I'm writing this from sunny Miami. Hello!

We're here to visit family for the holidays. I swear it has NOTHING to do with the great weather. No, not at all.

Last year, I wrote about my conflicted feelings about missing out on a white Christmas. I was feeling the same way this year as I dug through out of season clothes to pack for the kids. I was really getting upset that we wouldn't be using our fireplace and that we didn't decorate - yet again.

Then we got that messy snowfall last week - the kind of snow that isn't picturesque in the least, the kind that makes for messy driving and slippery walks. It falls heavy and hard and clings to your spirit and smothers it under its icy weight. It was the first snowfall of the year that stuck AND it was the day I was assigned to work at my son's preschool. Let me tell you, for someone that thinks the fact that I have to put on socks everyday now (oh my God the EXTRA TIME IT TAKES!) it was the last straw.

And! More snow was predicted for Friday! I have never been happier to get on a plane with two small kids. I'm completely serious.

So we flew out on Thursday - when the walks were icy but the sky was clear - and landed safely in Florida before the first Big! Storm! of! Doom! arrived. Talk about timing. I'm glad we missed out on the fun - from what I understand the snow wasn't as bad as expected, just picturesque, and most of you have stocked up on food and rum. So I'm assuming you're all good.

I'll be back to this soon enough, so for now I'll pig out on latin food and let the balmy breezes melt me away.

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

The economy sucks. We're all stressed out about it - I know I am. But I'm so not stressed out about Christmas.

Am I the only one who doesn't mind that Christmas is less about giving that big "must-have" gift this year? I find it liberating.

I love everything about the Christmas season, except for the whole pressure to shop thing.

Now, even a cursory glance at this blog will make it obvious that I have no problems with shopping or with owning nice things, but I do have a problem with this pressure to buy, buy, buy in the name of what is, to me, a religious holiday. It just seems wrong. I prefer to do my shopping when the mood strikes, which to be honest, is often. It's just that I don't need Macy's telling me that I have to fight the crowds to buy more stuff in time to make the tree look like the one at the mall.

Of course, it's easy for me to say this because for Latin people Christmas is a time about not working, partying with your family and getting drunk (oh, and going to midnight Mass on Christmas Eve - the only time I happily go to church because I find singing "Silent Night" by candlelight soothing and magical.)

I much prefer the simple gifts. I know it's a cliche, but it's true. I also don't like the sights of crazed children opening gift after gift on Christmas morning. I do like the way a child's face lights up when they get that one thing they always wanted. I know that children love presents, but I don't go overboard on Christmas. I don't think my kids will be deprived if they don't have the latest electronic gizmo. Sure, I listen extra carefully this time of the year and try to figure out what it is that they really want and make sure it's under the tree. They're kids, after all. Usually what they want is something very simple - or so ridiculously impossible that you can't do anything about it.

This year, all my three year old wants is a Spiderman DVD and to meet Barack Obama. I can't give him everything (unless one of you has excellent connections and wants to perform a Christmas miracle of presidential proportions), but I can look for a DVD. So now I'm on a quest to find something age appropriate. NOT EASY. But also? Not expensive.

I didn't write this to criticize people who like to give and receive a lot of gifts - I'm just sharing how I do it. (We do the big gifts on birthdays. Birthdays are where we go all out.) I just hope that everyone that celebrates the holidays stops to enjoy them. (I mean all of them, not just mine.)

It's not just about the presents. It's about the cookies and the booze too.

We have a winner!

 

Congratulations to commenter #74, Major Bedhead, who can finally put down the Vaseline:

It seems to be the popular choice, but I'd go for the Bourbon Vanilla, too.

Out here in the western part of the state, it seems that something is sucking all the moisture out of my skin. I've had to resort to straight Vaseline to get any relief. Which makes for slippery going, let me tell you.

Don't apologize - I chose the Vanilla as well! The lovely people at Shea Terra Organics will have your Bourbon Vanilla set on its way.

I'd like to thank all of you for entering this giveaway - your comments were great! As a added thank you, Shea Terra Organics has a special deal for you:

Use the code organicholiday anytime between December 12, 2008 and January 1, 2009 to receive 30% off everything at sheaterraorganics.com!

A LOVELY GIVEAWAY - Luxe and green bath and skincare gift set from Shea Terra Organic

When the nice people at Shea Terra Organics offered to send me some of their products to try, I said "sure!" because, well, I'm not stupid.  I love beauty products (who doesn't!) and their stuff promises to be loaded with Shea Butter - I live in Boston and it is now winter, so my skin is a peeling, flaking mess.

I got a HUGE box of stuff to try and...that's all I'll say because I don't do reviews here. BUT...here's a hint: I told them that I'd love to share their products with my friends - and they offered to sponsor a giveaway right here.

Awesome, right?

If a company wants to give away luxurious, fair-trade, organic skincare to you - who am I to say no?

I'm a Libra, and thus terribly indecisive so I couldn't choose just one thing for you to try. So Shea Terra Organics has generously offered to let you choose your own prize - you can choose any one of these gift collections (each one retails for $48 and would make a great gift ... for yourself, or others.):

Miombio Mango Indigenous Shea Butter Gift Set

 

Pink Guava Pomegranate Indigenous Shea Butter Gift Set

 

Lavender of the Khoisan Indigenous Shea Butter Gift Set

 

Bourbon Vanilla Indigenous Shea Butter Gift Set

Oh, what to choose?

Isn't it nice to have to make these types of decisions? Have fun!

Here are the rules:

1. To enter, simply leave a comment on this post. Tell me which scent you want: Pink Guava Pomegranate, Lavender of the Khoisan, Miombo Mango, or Bourbon Vanilla. Be sure to leave a valid email address so I can contact you if you're the winner.

2. Comments will close on Friday, December 12 at 12:01 AM.

3. Contest is open to US and Canadian addresses only. (Sorry!)

That's it! Good luck!

Because Sometimes I am the Queen of the Obvious

I finally understand the internet's obsession with Target. (What can I say? I'm slow sometimes.)

The trick to enjoying Target is to go early on a weekday and (this is key) LEAVE THE HUSBAND AND KIDS AT HOME.

Duh. But a vast improvement over visiting on a Sunday with three whining males and a thirty-minute time limit. Ahem.

But if you get there on your own, it's just about the most magical place on earth. I spent a good part of an hour just looking at their purses - my God, their purse department is huge - and some of the bags look almost as nice as the "real" thing. (I'm totally looking at you, Anya Hindmarch tote!) I almost bought one, but I ended up not buying one. I don't know why I'm telling you this. Maybe I should get a medal?

Man, this recession sucks.