Suzanne Schaffer

This guy wins the award for best license plate of the trip. This guy made a deal with friends that for every snack he ate on Christmas Day he'd do push-ups. Caught him as he was finishing a set. Snapped a quick shot at the Christmas Eve candle light service at the church that I attended as a teen. Had roasted chestnuts for the first time. I think I'm in love. Played some cards with my daughter on Christmas night. Found this hard-to-find favorite snack at a health food store in Peters Township. I've loved this little gems for most of my life and whenever I see them I grab a package for myself.

I've long had a love for antique books. I love the way they look, the way they feel, the way they smell. They are like stepping back into time, each a work of art. I have collected them for years and I'm pretty selective of the ones that I purchase. I find them at yard sales and usually pick them up for a dollar or so. Here's one that I found recently, it is modeling on an old trunk that I've owned since I was a teenager.  Beautiful, isn't it?

These are the songs that are driving me crazy this holiday season. Especially when I'm doing a merchandising job. I don't know how the people who work with this stuff screaming in their ears all day  long survive the days....weeks....months.   The Jackson 5. The particular store that I work in doesn't just play one in their regular (year after year after year) rotation, they have three to four. This is the one that makes me want to bang my head against the wall. Wow. This Beach Boys song is only a minute and a half long but it's slowly killing me. "he's the man-uh with all-uh the toys-uh." It's like they think they're an old time pentecostal preacher. Over and over for ninety horrid seconds.  Paul McCartney's Simply Having a Wonderful Christmas Time has been one that I've despised for years. I can't even stand the music to it. Yuck yuck yuck.  And the final one that I simply cannot bear to listen to, or even post for y

Wrapping presents has never been my favorite thing to do. Sure, I make them look half decent, but I don't like doing it. I found some wrapping paper on clearance at TJ Maxx (my favorite store!) last year after Christmas. Thought it was a great deal and it was handmade in India. Well, I won't make that mistake again. This stuff if horrid. It gets glitter everywhere. It's the consistency of wallpaper. Tape doesn't stick to it. In fact, the only tape that I can make stick to it is my packing tape.  Yeah. So I'm sure everyone will enjoy trying to get into my wrapped really well presents next week. Anything to save a buck or two. Blah.

In loving memory of a sweet friend who left this world before we were ready for her to leave. She was a beautiful example of a godly woman, one of gentleness and of graciousness. It's been years since I've seen her face to face but I can still hear her laugh.  Please pray for her husband and three children as they now have to navigate life without Tara. One breath here on earth and the next one in heaven. Our sorrow is for us, not for her. She is much better off having left her cancer-ridden body here. Can't wait to see you again someday, Tara.

By popular demand, more things I don't want for Christmas This giant fish vase. I don't even understand why anyone would want a fish vase of any size. But a giant one? Weird. A faux fur wine bag. Just because. Oh how I love me some garlic. And pickled garlic is nothing short of amazing. But I apparently carry the scent with me for days and that bothers the man I've dubbed, "Wonder-Nose". So none of this for me. No. No matter how cute you are you little frosted snowman cookie, I do not want you for Christmas. You're 400 calories. FOUR HUNDRED. I can think of so many other ways to enjoy 400 calories than just one cookie. Pickled tomatoes. No. Not even going to taste this. Sometimes you don't need a reason to avoid something.   I also do not ever want a subscription to High Times magazine. And yes, it's about what you think it's about. Ugh.

I normally don't like this song. I mean, it was cute the first 50,000 or so times I heard it and then it just started to sound like a stalker-song and it made me mad. Like, dude, she said NO, let her go. Then I found this version which I adore for a few reasons. First, it's Miss Piggy. Second, it's Vince Gill (A.K.A. Mr Amy Grant). And finally, he talks about Amy through the song. Too cute. Enjoy~ 

  I had a few minutes to waste so I went into a local department store to browse. I saw these gloves and almost burst out laughing. And then it hit me, why not do a blog post on things I don't want for Christmas. So here it is, I'm sure I could find many more examples but I only had about half an hour to waste this afternoon. I don't want cat or dog gloves. Nor do I want any thing that is Vera or that resembles Vera like the above bags. These sunglasses. Ick. Anything Justin Bieber, especially a fragrance with his name on it. Whose brilliant idea was it to make women's bathrobes with cows and hippos? Because we women usually feel pretty fat several days of the month anyway. What woman wants to wear either of these? These don't really need an explanation. Actually, I wish someone would explain them to me. Just tell me why. Anything Alfred Dunner. Enough said.