On the first day of Christmas my true love gave to me, a Partridge in a Pear Tree....

I have to say I'm feeling pretty good about this year's gift giving.

While we all are downscaling the amount of gifts we're giving this year -- as well as the amount of people we're giving to -- I have to say, I’m happy with the kinds of gifts I'm purchasing.
For example, G is incredibly difficult to buy for. What do you get the person who has everything? And yet.....I think I've done okay. I don't feel I picked things just to get something - which is often how I end up feeling (Especially last year after we agreed not to buy for one another and yet....there I was, rushing to make up for having stuck to my end of the bargain better than he had!)
I think the gifts I thought of are fun, and things he'll enjoy and get good use out of.

Same with the kids; this year, I think the gifts they're getting are ones that they really wanted and will use. It's funny, they write to Santa to express their wishes but somehow those ideas get lost in the sensory overload of walking into a toy store that can get to even the best of parents. (Raising hand, guiltily.)

So this week, is when I need to get wrapping. I haven't started yet, which isn't a good thing - but I think I'm going to do a lot of gift bag wrapping for things that aren't for the kids in an effort to make life easier. Seriously, I'm beginning to think they're the best invention ever.

I need to get focused on my holiday meal as well. I've decided to take out one of the courses this year -- the soup. I just can't think of a soup that excites me enough to make it - that would go well with my meal, other than a Sweet Potato bisque. It's just not exciting me at the moment....but who knows, that could change.

So the holiday menu at the "I'm just a girl" house this year will be as follows:

Shrimp Cocktail
Stuffed Scallops
Stuffed Italian Peppers
Caesar Salad
Lasagna
Spiral Ham
Turducken
Roasted Asparagus
Roasted Potatoes
Sweet Potatoes w/ Pecans and Marshmellow

I do believe that's the menu. Sides are subject to change, but the bulk of it is set in stone....

What will be on your holiday table?