Dear Postman, I hate you -- or -- How Mr. Wickstrom saved the day!

(click to enlarge)

This year for Christmas we purchased four gifts for each other:

a want
a need
something to wear
something to read

The goal was to spend less and give more from the heart. And it worked (mostly). We even shared our "need," gifting ourselves with a bluray player.

Except that I fell in LOVE with a watch. For months I've been stalking it online, imagining the cool band against my wrist and LUSTING.

"Hey, Chris, I have the BEST idea," I enthusiastically suggested. "Why don't you buy this watch for my 'read?' I'd be reading it all the time. It's PERFECT!"

"That's not a 'read,'" he grumpily replied.

I didn't let up.

I sent e-mail dissertations, subject line: Seriously, this is ALL I want. I searched online and showed him pictures. I casually walked him by the display case in the store.

Days before Christmas, while finishing some last-minute shopping, Mr. Wickstrom suggested we visit the watch counter. Excited butterflies flurried in my stomach.

The watch of my dreams wasn't in stock, so we headed home and I immediately ordered it online, even springing $8 for two-day shipping. It was set to arrive Christmas Eve.

Fast-forward to Christmas Eve -- our apartment is bursting with cheery Christmas music and I'm whipping up dinner for two. Around 3 p.m., I remember the watch and send Chris to check the mail.

He returns with a handful of Christmas cards, some pizza coupons and...

A PINK SLIP.

"I paid $8 for that stupid watch to arrive TODAY," I grumped. "Doesn't the postman have any Christmas spirit?!"

I vowed to one day raise vicious dogs trained to eat postmen.

Chris grabbed his jacket.

"I'll see if I can find him."

When he returned 40 minutes later, I scanned his face for any sign of success.

"Did you find him?"

"I found some other guys, but they were on different routes. Sorry, babe."

Fast-forward to present opening. We cranked the holiday tunes, cozied up on the couch and began exchanging gifts. Chris opened his 'wear' and 'read' and suggested I open the present he wrapped. It had no label, no bow and I was instructed to grab it from the bottom because the sides were fragile. I tore the paper and was surprised with a fun bendy camera stand.

"It's perfect," I exclaimed.

"Pretend to take a picture so I can take a picture of you," Chris suggested.

I posed with the cardboard camera, only then realizing its heft. There was something in the box.

A glance at Chris' triumphant face confirmed my suspicions and I ripped open the fake camera to find the watch tucked neatly inside.
My face lit up with a shocked smile.

"You found the postman?!"

"Yep," Chris said, beaming. "I saw his car in front of an apartment building and waited until someone was going inside since the doors were locked. Finally a lady let me in and I showed him the pink slip and told him it was your Christmas gift and I really needed to get it today. He said he tried to call us from the intercom on our building, but our number was unlisted. I explained that our cell phones can't be programed into the intercom and he said he'd remember that next time he made a delivery. He even wished me Merry Christmas."

I'm changing my New Year's resolution from training postman-attacking hounds to sewing Chris a superhero cape! I think they've both earned it.

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Holidays 2008 (aka How Becky fell in love all over again)

Law school is a huge jerk during the Christmas season. Not only does she thwart any romantic holiday celebrating plans, she assails hot husband with stress, sleepless nights and FINALS!

In spite of her jerkiness, law school did NOT succeed in ruining our holidays. We had a cozy Christmas Eve celebration for two, a quick visit to Connecticut to see family and a rockin' New Year's Eve with our BFFs.

Take that, law school!

(As for Becky's love affair, she spent the holidays at the movies -- (nearly) ten times and still banana sandwich crazy about a certain someone...)

I hope you were as lucky in love this holiday season!

And now, for your viewing pleasure, Wickstrom Christmas 2008, in photos.

Red Christmas shoes (because I'm that festive!)

Christmas dinner, for two

Christmas kissing (a perk of Christmas Eve sans family)

Christmas raspberry turnovers (before)

Christmas raspberry turnovers (after)Self-wrapped Christmas presents (+ Christmas leopard hoodie -- WILDLY festive!)

Christmas surprises from husband of the century (details coming soon...)

Christmas reading (A Gentleman Gets Dressed Up)

Christmas with mom

Christmas sibs -- aww!

Christmas with Grandma Ruth and Grandpa Joe (studying family genealogy)Christmas cookies with BACON from a rockstar sister-in-law (inspired by these)
(Belated) Christmas present opening with BFFs
Cute Christmas pjs
The perfect Christmas present for a much-deserving friend

New Year's was spent eating, board gaming, shopping, golfing, laughing, fondue-ing, napping, movie watching and enjoying company of BFFs! We even pulled an all-nighter (don't ask how we felt the next day. We're totally not getting old...)

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Love and warm wishes for a happy, blessed holiday!

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Recipe for a Girl's Night: definitely my FAVORITE THING!

Thanks to inspiration from the fabulously talented Wendy, I hosted a girl's night out (GNO) on Friday. It was super fab!

Here's my recipe for a killer girly holiday get-together:

1. Send an e-vite.
It's paperless, hassle-free, hip and tracks your RSVPs for you!

2. Pick a theme.
Wendy and I came up with the idea for A Few of My Favorite Things party (a la Sound of Music + Oprah) where guests brought a favorite to share (and I was Oprah?). Some favorites were homemade, store-bought, edible, non-edible, Christmas-y or not -- anything was acceptable. For me, the theme was especially appropriate as my favorites include my girls, parties, Christmas, purple (yes, I wore a purple dress), girl talk and, well, you'll see what else.

The theme became the jumping off point for every other party detail.

3. Invite your favorite friends.
(Aren't they gorgeous?) I tend to forgo worries of whether my guests already know each other. If I like you, I'm pretty sure you'll like her!

4. Prepare a few of your favorite foods.
I opted for a killer Pancetta-roasted Butternut Squash Soup, breadsticks, warm spinach dip and a crudite platter with the best lemon-thyme dip ever. (Recipe here). I was going for simple, elegant and savory (guessing that someone would pick a sugar-y treat as their favorite). I also served chilled Italian sodas and hot cocoa.

5. Share your favorite treats as favors.
Mine included swedish fish in cute containers (all hail Container Store!), bowls of gourmet candy, reading material (swoon!), and a custom-designed CD of my (current) favorite songs.


6. Make it personal.
I wrote each guest a note listing three of my favorite things about them. I wanted to celebrate each woman's amazingness and importance in my life.


7. Mingle, chat, swoon over celebrities, plan more parties, share misadventures and enjoy!
We indulged in everyone's favorites, including treats and candy, killer hummus, orange-scented craisins, "THE Cookies" from Jessica's family, decoratable train cakes, homemade holiday CDs, Christmas stories and more! It was a blast!

Clearly Kara and I have the same taste in men:

And because these girls are beyond amazing, I got some adorable hostess gifts (you shouldn't have!) including Rudolph Rootbeer! Love it!

You've got the recipe - what are you waiting for?! Time to throw your own GNO Holiday Bash!

Do you need my e-mail address for the e-vite?

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Christmas Extravaganza 2008

Even while suffering through (hot) husband's law school finals and planning a major girl's night holiday party, I managed to spread some Christmas cheer throughout our apartment. Halfway through I was admittedly ready to quit. And my creative juices were flowing, but my ability to execute my vision was a tad off.

Exposition aside, I now present Casa Wickstrom Christmas Extravaganza 2008!
(Click here, here, here, here and here for previous holiday decorating. Mom's house is here.).

Front door
It's a tradition to hang a welcoming boxwood wreath on our front door (+ ski lodge ribbon + glitter ornament).

Entry telephone table
This is the first piece of furniture you see when you enter the apartment and I never know quite what to do with it. My solution was a little glitter and some presents tucked in the shelves. Then I threw my arms up in exasperation and left to eat some feel-better chocolate.

Guest bedroom
Our guest bedroom was the staging ground for my party and, as a result, is not open to the public. I did decorate with a butterfly garland, but if that room remains in its current state of chaos, you'll just have to enjoy the pictures.

Guest bathroom
Luckily this room is already decorated in red and pink so the addition of a cute hand towel made it instantly festive!

This, however, is Exhibit A of my Christmas decorating vision gone sour. I wrapped a bunch of small boxes and strung them with ribbon to make a present garland. For some reason this project was 100% cuter in my brain, but I strung it above the bathroom mirror anyway.

(Note to self: that painting is REALLY UGLY!)

Dining room
Welcome to Exhibit B of my Christmas decorating gone sour. You probably know I am completely enraptured and enamored with a certain inspiring store. So, taking a note from their festive decor, I strung my sparkly ornaments on grosgrain ribbon for a new alternative to garland. I like where I was going with this idea, I'm just not sure I ever got there...wherever "there" is...

Living room
Like last year, I opted for three fresh evergreen wreaths behind the couch. I also used loads of red satin ribbon and hung my oversided ornaments from the curtain rod. Subtle, yet festive.

Christmas Tree
Finally, here's our Christmas tree. Sorry I couldn't fit the whole thing in this picture. Just kidding. We went fresh, yet miniature and I mixed it up with a bow around the bottom and ornaments filling the base. It sits on the floating shelf above our TV with a silver jingle bell garland and reindeer ornament.

Hope you had fun decorating too! Happy Holidays!

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The 12 Dates of Christmas -- Ice Skating

Date 3: Ice skating at the National Sculpture Garden outdoor rink. Don't live by the sculpture garden? That's why God invented planes. Or you can improvise by visiting a local ice (or roller) skating rink and then walking past a sculpture on your way home. Same difference.

What you'll love: Depending on your skill level, you'll love laughing at your partner's incessant spills. Or maybe you'll love playing the damsel in distress, necessitating much hand-holding and "saving" from falls. The best part will likely be the warm, soothing bath at the end of your date.

Cost: $$
($20, including rentals)

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The 12 Dates of Christmas -- Technicolor Melodies

Date 2: Download a playlist of recommended "Jingle Jams" from NPR, bundle up in puffy jackets and go for a stroll through your neighborhood to see the Christmas lights. If it's really cold outside, burn the songs onto a CD, pack into your car and enjoy the lights in heated comfort. Don't forget your minty gum for all of the festive smooching that may ensue.

What you'll love: Sharing earbuds could be the funnest part (especially if you suffer a large height discrepancy like the Mr. and me). The Christmas spirit will be bubbling in your veins as you hum happy holiday melodies and judge your neighbors' levels of Christmas spirit and decorating prowess. You could even take a small pad of paper to rate the tackiness, comparing notes at the end of the night.

Cost: FREE!

Promise me one thing -- your playlist MUST include It's Christmas Eve in Washington. It's only fun if we suffer together.

(If you live in the neighborhood next to this house, I'm so jealous! Unless those lights are keeping you up at night, in which case I'm sorry.)

Please note my suggested 12 Dates of Christmas are meant to be economical, fun, off beat and celebrations of the love that should abound during the season (as opposed to the stress I tend to embrace.) You don't have to spend a lot of money to have a memorable holiday!

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The 12 Dates of Christmas -- Chocolate Guffaws

Let's pretend for a second that my hot husband didn't have three gigantic papers due in a week. Let's also pretend my apartment was already decorated to the nines (or 10s? 11s?), fudge and cards were in the mail, and I had wads of cash to spoil my loved ones and acquaintances with everything on their Christmas lists.

But Heidi is right -- "Law school is a jealous mistress." And my apartment looks like a tsunami swept through, leaving Christmas jumbled on every visible surface (not in a good way).

As for the gifts, you know I can't give away Santa's secrets.

But I will divulge my original plan for a meaningful Christmas with hot husband:

The 12 Dates of Christmas

Date 1: Visit Murky Coffee (660 Pennsylvania Ave, SE, or 3211 Wilson Blvd., Arlington) for the famous "$5 Hot Chocolate," settle into a cozy corner and read David Sedaris' "Holidays on Ice" aloud.

What you'll love: straight-forward, legendary hot cocoa (only available in 12-ounce servings with NO whipped cream), hip indie ambiance and stories to remind you that you're family could be crazier. Think of all the Christmas flirting you can do while reading, giggling and coyly stirring your hot cocoa.

Cost: $
(All you need is love and about $10.)

Stay tuned for more dates!

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Belated

We were spoiled. Jack Frost was vacationing in the Caribbean earlier this winter. Now he's back with his bone-chilling, marrow-freezing, all-I-want-to-do-is-curl-up-under-a-blanket-and-sip-hot-cocoa cold.

But no snow.

Maybe warm thoughts of our picturesque Colorado white Christmas can heat things up around here. Let's give it a try, shall we?

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