By Lily

Hopefully, by now, all of the holiday decorations have been put away and good memories remain. The bounty found under the tree has been tried out by my eight year old daughter and the favorites have been determined. Disney Sing It Family Hits (Wii) is definitely a hit. Like a lot of kids, she loves to sing and perform. I was looking for a karaoke system when I happened upon this line from Disney. It was a happy moment to realize I wouldn’t have to bring in yet another electronic space-taker.

The selection of games range from classic Disney to their modern day stars and shows. The price of most is under $30.00 and you can opt for a bundle that includes a pretty decent microphone. “Family Hits,” a collection of well-known theme songs, was a good test to see if she cared for the game.  The playback sounds great and she loves hearing her voice with the Disney orchestras. I have decided to get some mirrors for her play area. Every star likes to see themselves perform. The “easy” mode is age appropriate. In other words, it’s truly easy for her to get a good score in training for the next level. There’s not a lot of the frustration involved that accompanies so many video games. This one is just about fun and the joy of singing. It is educational too. Anika Noni Rose (The Princess and The Frog, Dreamgirls) provides vocal tips and exercises in order to improve your game score.

Another toy that more than met expectations was the D&L Company Stomp Rocket. Costing no more than $20.00, it’s an easily assembled, almost unbreakable toy. The child jumps on it to launch a lightweight air rocket really high. How cool is that? It’s been the center of many games with my daughter and her friends so far.

So how did it shake out at your house? What ended up being the favorites? We were lucky and nothing flopped. But, please feel free to share your disappointments as well.
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By Pam

This year for the first time in probably 25 years, I did not prepare a big Christmas feast. My wonderful husband, who loves every sport known to man that involves some type of round object, gave our family tickets to the NBA opening day Los Angeles Lakers vs. Chicago Bulls Christmas Day game.

My adult sons and husband were extremely excited and looking forward to it for the last several weeks. I will admit that I (not a big NBA lover – Pro Football is my thing) was not that excited about the prospect of not having our traditional Christmas and sitting through a sport that doesn’t particularly thrill me. In addition, I should probably mention that as I get older, I do not deal with change that well. I think I was actually in a bit of a funk about it and I made a few subtle attempts in the past week to wrangle my way out by suggesting that there had to be a few of his friends that would appreciate it far more than me.

Needless to say, he was not buying it and off we went to Staples Center. I have to admit (I hope he is not reading this) that he was right and I was wrong. I had an absolute wonderful and festive time. I have not attended a game at the Staples Center, which is in downtown Los Angeles, in at least five years and oh my has it changed.

The area is now referred to as L.A. Live and it is truly amazing. There are over 20 upscale places to eat in Nokia Plaza, trendy clubs such as the the Conga Room, movie theaters and ritzy hotels such as the JW Marriott and Ritz Carlton and so much more. There was even an ice skating rink that was loaded with skaters even though it was a warm 75 degrees out today.

The game itself was a blast. Staples Center was rocking with Christmas songs and we were all entertained by the lovely scantily clad Laker Girls. People were dressed up in Christmas attire (several flashing reindeer antlers were noted) and ready to have a great time and cheer for the home town favorite. I even got a pair of the Laker “Thundersticks” shown in the video below and became quite proficient in annoying everyone around me. It was a close game but the Lakers blew the game at the end and let the Bulls come from behind to win it much to the delight of both my husband and sons who are avid backers of all things Chicago.

My husband also had quite an added thrill while we were at the game. His favorite, very attractive meteorologist on KTLA, Vera Jimenez,  sat in front of us and actually acknowledged him with a smile and a “Merry Christmas” when he awkwardly ( and embarrassingly to me) yelled out her name. If she only knew how he looks forward to the 10 pm news every night while thinking he fools me into believing that he really wants to know what the boring, never changing Los Angeles weather is going to be like.

I really did have a fantastic time and was reminded once again today what is important about Christmas. It doesn’t matter if you eat ham at the Christmas table or a hot dog at an NBA game as long as your are spending it with the people who you love and love you – it is all good.

By the way, I received another gift today from my husband and sons that truly made my day. I am now proud owner of an NFL team. They purchased stock for me in the Green Bay Packers. Something I have wanted since I missed out on the last sale in the 90s. Go Pack!

So now that I shared a little about my Christmas, I am wondering how yours turned out?
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Imperfect Women shared this last year during this time and we thought would bring this out of the attic, dust it off and share it again this year. ~ Pam

By Emil

At Christmastime, when I was young, we sang carols and church songs like “Silent Night,” also the lively, jolly “Jingle Bells.” Through the years these were joined by some good new numbers like “I’m Dreaming Of a White Christmas” and “Blue Christmas.” Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol” and “The Night Before Christmas” were our standard stories. Later new song-stories came along, including “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,” “Frosty the Snowman,” “Angie the Christmas Tree Angel” and “Little Drummer Boy.”

I still enjoy the beautiful Christmas songs and music that saturate the airwaves and our lives during the holiday season. for two weeks–or three–at the most. Then I decide that cold, dark, snowy January maybe won’t be so dreary after all. Shopping is not all bad. I love to watch the drivers in the mall lots jockeying for parking slots near the main mall entrance. I am amazed at their skill and guile–at their brass and attempts at downright intimidation.

Later, inside the store, they can be seen using much the same strategies and evasive moves while operating shopping carts–cutting each other off at the corners, and effectively blocking off a small display of a scarce item while deciding whether or not to make a purchase.

I spend a fair amount of time looking at the animated decorations. The sleeping, breathing, snoring Santas. And the tiny mechanical animals and elves that festoon artificial trees, barking, yelping, and belching out tunes like “Jingle Bells” and “What Child Is This?”

One thing I miss from the Christmas past is the whisper of currency that has in so many cases been replaced by the sounds of the verification of “plastic pay.” Accompanied by the occasional sad, silent shriek of a credit card that is being stretched far beyond common-sense limits.

I am amazed at recent increased participation in and celebration of the Great Day. At times, entire city blocks of homes and lawns are completely decorated with lights–flickering and flashing all over the place. Some neighborhoods remind one, incandescently, of the Las Vegas Strip.

But I often wonder whether any of the warm illumination of these displays ever finds its way into human hearts. What a wonderful world we would have if each of the tiny bulbs actually represented a true expression of love or a real act of kindness. Christmas is a wonderful time. A beautiful tradition to remember and to enjoy, and to pass on to our children.

I think the owner of a small shop, without giving it a lot of thought, said it best. When asked about the degree of success of his business, he quickly replied, “Thank God for Christmas!”

YES, VIRGINIA, THERE IS A CHRISTMAS TREE

Scrawny Christmas tree, discarded,
You’ve seen better times, I know,
As your yellowed needles fall to
Make a carpet on the snow.

For two weeks you lit your corner,
Adding to the season’s cheer,
Then your ornaments were taken,
Boxed up for another year.

Out in the back yard they threw you,
In a corner, in the snow,
But you still serve a good purpose,
Something most folks could not know.

You’ve made yours a life of sharing,
Would have it no other way,
And despite sad circumstances,
You are still giving today.

A small bird, your branches shelter,
With a painful, injured wing;
If I help you out, and feed it,
It will live to fly and sing.

Christmas brings a bounteous harvest,
Precious joys that we can reap;
First, the warmth that comes with giving,
Then, the memories that we keep

Okay, I’ll admit it. I’m the kind of person who is always looking for an excuse to incorporate a little sparkle into my ensemble. So, I naturally get pretty excited when this time of year rolls around. Why? Because the holiday season is the perfect opportunity for you and your wardrobe to shine. Literally. Need some ideas? Read on and I’ll share my secrets to shimmering stylishly!

Now as we all know, a little glitter goes a long way. Therefore, it’s my opinion that the best way to get some glitz into your outfit is through accessories. Here are a few items that are guaranteed to glam up your holiday look!

Scarves

A statement scarf like this sequin wrap from Macy’s can shake your outfit out of its winter blues. This shiny wrap works as a shawl over your little black dress for an office cocktail party, or as a casual scarf with jeans and a cute sweater for a more informal holiday gathering. An accessory that shines in different scenarios? Now that’s what I’m talking about!

Belts

You probably already know that a skinny belt can help define your waist and pull almost any outfit together. Add a little glitter to those qualities and you have a holiday accessory that’s unstoppable. This rosegold belt from J.Crew gives you a pop of shimmery color without overpowering the rest of your ensemble. If you’re not into gold, they also carry this gorgeous belt in silver!

Rings

An oversized ring is a fun way to add some bling to your holiday ensemble. The best part is that it doesn’t have to be an expensive piece of jewelry to be eye-catching. Check out this shiny trinket from Forever 21!

Shoes

Put your best foot forward this season in some sparkly high heeled shoes. If you want to be adventurous, try a pair of red glitter pumps like these, from AdultCostumes.com. They’re festive and fabulous! But if you’re feeling a little less bold, black glitter heels can also give your holiday outfit that dose of glitz it needs.

Handbags

This quilted metallic cross-body bag from The Gap is just what you need to pull your entire holiday look together. It’s practical, affordable, and of course, it has the whole shimmer factor going on. Wear this purse to any holiday get-together, from casual to formal!

One little warning before I go: I probably wouldn’t wear all of these sparkly accessories together. You don’t want to blind people. But adding one or two of these items to a holiday outfit is sure to make you stand out. Have fun and shine on!

These tips were brought to you by Eileen Sather, who works for an online costumes company, full of fun accessories and adult costumes. Eileen’s favorite color is glitter.
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By Evan Fischer

If you’re looking for the right gift for Mr. Right, then you’ve probably been to just about every golf store and electronics department in your area.  And you may have discovered that shopping for dudes is difficult!  There are so many electronic devices to choose from and they all look the same.  So if that special man in your life just won’t give you a hint about what he might want this holiday season, here are a couple of gift ideas that are sure to knock his socks off (and you can replace them with a pair of SmartWool socks or slippers in his stocking).

1. Tablet.  Forget the iPad, which will set you back a minimum of five hundred smackers, and opt instead for the new-and-improved Kindle Fire for just $199.  It won’t do everything the iPad can, but your guy can get books, music, and movies via Wi-Fi and store it all on the Amazon’s cloud network (5GB comes free with the Kindle and every additional GB of storage space is $1 per year).
2. Watch.  Men get so few accessories that it couldn’t hurt to have more than one watch.  At the very least he should have a durable one for everyday use and a fancy one for special occasions, so if he’s missing one or both of these in his wardrobe, consider filling in the blanks.  It’s often the job of a woman to make sure that her man looks presentable (hey, most of them just need a little push in the right direction), so don’t hesitate to spiff him up with a new timepiece.
3. Wallet.  You can certainly go with the standard black leather number, but there are a few options on the market that come with a little something extra.  The Rogue Wallet, for example, is curved to fit in a front pocket so your guy doesn’t have to sit on his money anymore.  And the Slimmy Wallet is touted as sporting the slimmest profile on the planet.
4. Lingerie.  Is it a gift for you or for him?  The answer is – both!  Every love life can use a little spice now and then, and you know that guys like the wrapping just as much as the present.  So wrap yourself in some slinky new lingerie and put yourself under the tree (bow and all).  Don’t let him forget that your relationship is the gift that keeps on giving!
5. A new car!  It’s not like you need to start looking for exotic sports cars or day cab semi trucks for sale.  But if your man is in need of a new car, you should definitely consider taking advantage of seasonal sales (and lots that are blowing out last year’s models) to secure the new vehicle your man needs.  Keep in mind that there are a lot of green options on the market these days that come with a wide range of options (and pricing).  So take a peek at the Honda Civic Natural Gas (which just won Green Car Journal’s Green Car of the Year award for 2012), Audi’s line of diesel vehicles (exemplary power and handling with amazing mileage), or one of the many fully electric and plug-in hybrid cars that can net you government rebates.

About the Author

Evan Fischer is a freelance writer and part-time student at California Lutheran University in Thousand Oaks, California
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