Wrapped with a bow

This evening marks the beginning of Hanukkah. It's hard to believe that 2012 is coming to a close. Before that happens, let's talk about gifts. I LOVE gifts. Giving them, receiving them, wrapping them...

Last weekend, we had some friends over, for a gift exchange. The rules (for those of us that work together) were pretty traditional:

a) Pick one name from a bowl
b) Max. $20
c) 1-3 gifts
d) Categories: Something delicious, something hilarious and/or something smart

Our other halves, were asked to bring a $10 gift and were not assigned a specific person.

Matt bought an air hockey game (for whoever was lucky enough to choose his gift, wrapped in a Time magazine cover) and I admittedly purchased a custom bride thong and personalized 'save the date' magnet for my secret Santa recipient. She is also engaged, so when in doubt, choose the wedding route  ---> however, not a quote to live by.

The time came for me to receive my presents - a vase featuring a boy crying, because his underwear is on a flagpole, a secret message writing set AND "you're on my SHIT LIST" post it's. Not sure how I should read into these...but I loved them.

Everything was going smoothly, until my friend Clare admitted that she had ALSO pulled my name out of the bowl and had gotten me two bottles of Skinnygirl Margarita (traditional and white peach). Yay! I mean, oh, oh. That meant one person was gift-less.

After the appearance of a Swiss folk music CD, it was all resolved and our merriment continued. Oh, Matt is also the proud new owner of a yo-yo.

While on the topic, most of the blogs that I read, have been featuring gift guides recently. While I would not call the below "my guide", here are a few items that have been on my mind. Santa might need some help, right?

1. Origins Bedtime Hug (lavender) $42, received this as a gift last year and the warmth/smell is just delightful. It's an instant soother.

2. BeerMo Bottle Mustache $10.99, featured in the top picture, Lydia received them during the gift exchange and they were a hit! Plus, they stay on the bottle perfectly. 

3. Chocomize $4.25+, create your own chocolate. Enough said.
4. Zara Peplum Cardigan with Silk Frill $39.99, the frill just gives a traditional sweater a little "umph". 

5. Game of Thrones DVD's $33.96, we just finished the first season and it literally kept us at the edge of our seat, so good. Warning: very violent. 

6. The Dry Bar (gift card) $35, "No cuts. No Color. Just blowouts". Haven't been yet, but it's on my to-do list.  

Some tunes to get into the holiday mood (this song will always remind me of Love Actually ♥) - 

P.S: Goodnight Moon - the New Yorker