Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas! I hope Santa was good to you, tucking some beauty-full goodies into your stocking. You did hang it by the chimney with care, right?

Last night, I gave Charlie and Savvy extra food. That seems to be their favorite treat. Charlie also got his first pill for hyperthyroidism. It will be temporary until I can get it nuked, the state-of-the-art treatment. I will be leaving the morning meal for the foxes and raccoons, birds and squirrels - early enough for all of them to enjoy it.

On Christmas Eve, I ran my butt all over the place. 1) Pick up Charlie's pills at the vet. 2) Pick up the prime rib roast at the Organic Butcher in McLean. 3) Drive to DC to Wagshal's to get the sides. 4) Go back to McLean to Balducci's for potato latkes and au gratin potatoes. Also got brie and crackers. Then went to the wild bird store for cracked corn for Mom's deer family. Delivered a few gifts. I am exhausted.

I was supposed to be off my feet today, but what are you going to do? I got a shot of cortisone in my right knee (and right shoulder). I was supposed to take it easy. Sure!

I'll be headed to Mom's to make Christmas dinner. She "ordered" standing rib roast. That's easy to cook. We're also having macaroni and cheese and cheesy corn grits (by popular request - no Southerners here!), two kinds of potatoes (at my instigation), French green bean casserole (yes the one with the crispy French's onions - we love it), and an Italian rum cake I purchased at the bakery. Also, plenty of wine, beer, and French soft cheese. It's going to be a delicious day.

I hope you have a wonderful Christmas! Please stop by later to let us know how you celebrated. I still have to write up my beauty events from last weekend. I'll try to get that done this weekend after all the festivities.

If you'd like to go off to YouTube to hear one of my all time favorite Christmas carols sung by Barbara Padilla, check out this link. Incredibly hard to sing - hard to believe I used to be able sing it. I'll never forget that this song brought tears to my father's eyes - that and Ave Maria. Remembering that brings tears to mine.

It will be a happy day!

iStock photo

Merry Christmas!

Every Christmas, I used to set up the nativity scene, arranging the characters perfectly. The wise men were arriving on their camels. The people and animals - along with the baby Jesus - were placed just so. As soon as I turned my back, a cat joined the scene. The figures were knocked over and spread from here to there, just so our little darling could be part of the action. It didn't matter which cat over the years; they all did it. This silly photo reminds me of those days, but this cat was much tidier. It looks like the scene was staged around him.

Christmas Eve, a day of anticipation, last-minute preparations, or both. It's almost as magical as Christmas Day! When I was growing up, we trimmed our Christmas tree on Christmas Eve. My father would wire the tree to hooks on the baseboard so that it wouldn't tip over (say, if a cat decided to climb it), and we would drag out the ornaments - antique and new - to turn it from a beautiful tree into a splendid one. With the Nativity scene, cat, and all the packages under the tree, it was the focus of our living room until New Year's Day. Today, I will hang my wreath on the door in memory of our family tradition.

I know I said Friday I would write over the holidays. I haven't kept that promise well. Despite ordering online and having phone orders delivered by Santa's elves, I found I had many more things I had to purchase in stores: food gifts, wrapping bags, ribbon, cards, and more. I had to pick up The Countess Kaleidoscope Eye Kit, which has arrived. I also had to fit in a few unplanned doctor's visits. I had to work through yesterday. Now it's Christmas Eve, and I am just beginning to wrap and deliver presents. I have already taken Mom out to lunch. I am still waiting for one box that was promised to arrive by today. At this point, I'm fearful that it won't. UPS has already been there twice today.

LES CADEAUX SONT COMME LES CONSEILS : ILS FONT PLAISIR SURTOUT A CEUX QUI LES DONNENT... Emile Henriot

I spent part of my morning donating to some favorite charities, such as the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust and the Old Friends Senior Dog Sanctuary. I had already sent gifts to Recycled Doggies. Those gifts give me so much satisfaction. I hope you will remember the animals when you make your end-of-year donations.

Thank you for reading Best Things in Beauty. You have been my joy this year! I hope your Christmas brings you love, comfort, and joy.  Even if you don't celebrate Christmas as a religious holiday, it's a festive time of year - a national holiday, a day of dinners with family and friends, a day of reflection and memories. Merry Christmas!

Photos courtesy of bibliobloglibrary.com and Jardins D'écrivains

Merry Christmas!

As the sun starts to set on Christmas Eve, accompanied here by rain, snow flakes, and sleet, Santa may need to use his GPS to get around. I heard that NORAD is tracing Santa's journey. Volunteers at an Air Force base are monitoring maps showing Santa Claus' progress and have answered more than 24,000 phone calls from children wanting to know everything from old Saint Nick's age, to how reindeer fly (I'd like to know that answer), to when they can expect their presents.

According to USA Today, phones have been ringing nonstop at Peterson Air Force Base, headquarters of the North American Aerospace Command's annual Santa-tracking operation. Dozens of helpers at NORAD are taking calls and tracking Santa's location on large projection screens. They're posting updates for nearly 1.2 million Facebook fans and 104,000 Twitter followers. The stories are really touching.
One little boy from Missouri called 877-HI-NORAD (877-446-6723) to ask when Santa delivered toys to heaven, said volunteer Jennifer Eckels.The boy’s mother got on the phone to explain that the boy’s sister had died this year. “I think Santa headed there first,” Eckels told him. I hope he had plenty of toys for the sweet victims of the Newtown, who just arrived.

Charlie hasn't been feeling well, so I've been running back and forth to his doctor's - first with a stool sample, then to pick up medications. I don't know how an indoor cat gets a bacterial infection, but he managed. Poor little guy is miserable, spending a fair amount of time sleeping on the carpet outside his bathroom. He wants to be close to his box. I feel almost as bad as he does. You know how it affects you when your furry kid is sick, and you can't explain why - or fix it right away.

Otherwise, I must go wrap (or bag) presents. UPS just arrived with a last-minute Land's End order with several gifts for Mom. Plus he brought a little gift for me: an ultra-deluxe sample of Guerlain's new Orchidée Impériale The Cream. Rhonda at Guerlain's boutique in Las Vegas send it, promising that it would not be heavily fragranced. She's right. I can't wait to try it.

Tonight, I'm going over to a friend's party (the snow is not accumulating), and tomorrow I'll be at my Mom's house. I was given potato duty, so I took several recipes over and asked her to choose. She went for the simple au gratin recipe, so that's what I'll be cooking to accompany the prime rib. I hope someone is preparing the French green bean casserole (yes the one with the crispy French's onions - I love it).

Christmas can be a bit melancholy. A group of local residents paid tribute to the Newtown victims at the Washington Monument today, singing carols in their memory. If you'd like to go to YouTube to hear one of my all time favorite Christmas carols sung by Barbara Padilla, check out this link. It's incredibly hard to sing - hard to believe I used to be able sing it (when I had a child's voice). I'll never forget that this song brought tears to my father's eyes. Remembering that brings tears to mine, along with so many memories.

I hope you have a wonderful Christmas celebration. Merry Christmas! I'll be back in a day to show you some beautiful new makeup.

Update Christmas Morning: Charlie is feeling a bit better - after only one pill, which amazes me. He also has probiotics for his food, but he is NOT keen on them. They must have a taste or smell to him. Because he feels better, so do I. I think I had a lot of anxiety yesterday because my baby was so sick.

iStock photos

Santa's Little Helper

Today, I decided that Best Things in Beauty could serve as Santa's little helper. I've always hated the idea of making lists of things I'd like Santa (i.e., my parents) to bring me at Christmas. I thought Santa ought to know what I'd like to have - what would delight me. God bless him; Santa never had a clue.

Here's your chance to list some things you'd love to see under the tree. Just make sure your comment (err, list) is identifiable, and leave your wish list here. Then tell your own sweet Santa where he or she might get some ideas.

Santa may ask me where he can find an item or two on your wish list, so I'll be monitoring this feature for Santa's shopping questions. I've always wanted to be a personal shopper.

P.S. Santa, you can find me at bestthingsinbeauty@gmail.com if you are short of elves.

Photo courtesy of telegraph.co.uk

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas! I hope Santa was good to you, tucking some beauty-full goodies into your stocking. You did hang it by the chimney with care, right?

Last night, I gave Charlie and Savvy their catnip "cigars." I'm not sure what Savvy did with hers. She may have taken it under the guest room bed for private enjoyment. Charlie got cat-drunk with me. He played for a long time, licking it, attacking it, throwing it into the air and leaping with joy. I have a small puncture wound to prove his enthusiasm. Good kitty!

I've left the morning meal for the foxes and raccoons, and I'll be headed out soon with food for the birds and squirrels. Charlie and Savannah have eaten. I'm looking forward to a mimosa and ham and eggs for breakfast. Yesterday in the late afternoon, I ventured out to the Honey Baked Ham store, where they had hired off-duty police officers to keep order in the store. Can you believe it? Apparently, people behave badly everywhere at Christmas, whether it's buying sneakers or ham. At least all is well at my house.

Later, I'll be headed to Mom's to make Christmas dinner. She "ordered" standing rib roast. That's easy to cook. We're also having macaroni and cheese (apparently by popular request - no Southerners here!), baked potatoes (and sweet potatoes) at my instigation, French green bean casserole (yes the one with the crispy French's onions - we love it), the yummy jellied salad that Mom still makes, and the strawberry mousse cake I purchased at the bakery Friday. Also, plenty of wine and French soft cheese. It's going to be a delicious day.

After all that activity (cooking and eating), I doubt I'll be back to write today. I hope you have a wonderful Christmas! Please stop by later to let us know how you celebrated.

If you'd like to go off to YouTube to hear one of my all time favorite Christmas carols sung by Barbara Padilla, check out this link. Incredibly hard to sing - hard to believe I used to be able sing it. I'll never forget that this song brought tears to my father's eyes. Remembering that brings tears to mine.

It will be a happy day!

iStock photo

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas! I hope Santa was good to you, tucking some beauty-full goodies into your stocking. You did hang it by the chimney with care, right?

Despite the imagery, we have no snow here - and I'm glad! The forecast calls for some flurries tonight and a "minor snowfall" tomorrow. I can't deal with snow while I try to finish preparations for the next week. I hear that friends from the Mid-West to Paris are blanketed with the white stuff, and more is headed toward the East Coast. While picturesque, it's terribly inconvenient. Just think of the extra reindeer Santa needs to give the sleigh traction!

I've left the morning meal for the foxes and raccoons, and I'll be headed out soon with food for the birds and squirrels. Charlie and Savannah have eaten. I'm looking forward to a mimosa and raspberry croissant. All is well at our house. I'm headed downstairs to open some presents too.

I'll be back later this morning with our Weekend Roundup. Until then, savor the day! Hope you have fun.

If you'd like to go off to You Tube to hear one of my all time favorite Christmas carols sung by Barbara Padilla (yes, I'm still bummed she didn't win), check out this link. Incredibly hard to sing - hard to believe I used to be able sing it. Another beautiful version, if you can stand the quick advertisement, is here. No question Renée Fleming can sing!

Update 9:20 AM: It's snowing. It wasn't supposed to happen, except for flurries tonight. How could this be?

Merry Christmas! The Magic of Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve, a day of anticipation, last-minute preparations, or both. It's almost as magical as Christmas Day! When I was growing up, we trimmed our Christmas tree on Christmas Eve - actually, I did when I was old enough. My father would wire the tree to hooks on the baseboard so that it wouldn't tip over (say, if a cat decided to climb it), and we would drag out the ornaments - antique and new - to turn it from a beautiful tree into a splendid tree. With the Nativity scene and all the packages under the tree, it was the focus of our living room until New Year's Day. Today, I will hang my wreath on the door in memory of our family tradition.

I hope you have a wonderful Christmas. Even if you don't celebrate Christmas as a religious holiday, it's such a festive time of year - a national holiday, a day of dinners with family and friends, a day of recollections.

It's time for The Friday Forum, although I suspect most of you will be way too busy to stop by. Today, I'll be continuing my preparations for my knee surgery - have to dash out to get lots of cat food this morning. It was extremely cold here yesterday, with a biting wind. I'm hoping for a nicer day. I'll be writing another feature about the new Chanel spring collection and wrapping a few presents. I also want to deliver a gift to a friend who lives nearby. I'll be here most of the day if you'd like to chat.

Thanks for reading Best Things in Beauty! You have been my joy this year! I hope your Christmas brings you love, comfort, and joy - maybe even a Christmas carol or two. Merry Christmas!

Photo courtesy of cdnbiz.net