DO OPEN Before Christmas!

After yesterday's tacky post, I felt like I owed y'all something. While typing, I must have been channeling Cher and her Tasteless Tuesdays which btw...I was thrilled to see one posted just yesterday! So with my apology in place, I thought I would try to make it up to y'all by giving you a "leg up" on some wonderful places to go visit! Kinda an early Christmas present from me to you! There are two places I encourage you to visit as soon as you have a moment during the hustle and bustle of the season. Debra has created the most wonderful refuge for women to gather, talk, and learn. She is providing a forum at A Day In The Life to exchange ideas and talk about faith. She selects verses to study and encourages open discussion with no one turned away. It's an opportunity to grow as a Christian and express oneself without worrying about saying or doing the wrong thing. Call it a retreat without having to pack a bag. I know you'll be drawn in by the discussions and in doing so, will come away energized.

The second place I'd like for you to make time to visit reaffirms the power of prayer and faith. Please visit The Red Shed Antiques and watch the video of Michele when she was interviewed on Good Morning Texas. Talk about stepping out of the boat...this is powerful stuff. You can also read the newspaper article wrote about her by the Dallas Morning News. If you are thinking about trying something totally out of your comfort zone and are vacillating about whether you can do it or not...read and watch. Michele is an inspiration to all women and not just cancer survivors. Now if you're in the mood for a hoot and a holler, have I got just the single wide for you. Hop on over to Red.Neck Chic and read her latest post on fire safety. She gives all the 411 on fire prevention during the holidays in her own unique red neck style. Armed only with a roll of duct tape in one hand, a fire extinguisher in the other and her tongue firmly in her cheek, she tells you how to have a safe Christmas with a twist. There is some really sound advice mixed in with a lot of humor. Sure wish I had read it before I set a guest's sleeve afire at a Christmas open house we held a couple of years back! FYI...Christmas sweaters...highly flammable around lit guests and candles...just so you know!

Now if this isn't enough to make up for my ticky-tacky post...then I guess I'll just have to sweeten the pot a little with a preview of some of the presents I'll have on hand for the 100,000 Visitor party that is coming soon. (I just checked the visitors scoreboard and we are sliding in to 99,000!) It's getting close y'all and I am hard at work coming up with party ideas. In the meantime, here's a peek at some of what I'll be giving away!

First up will be a set of four Gorham Christmas Jewels martini glasses! New and in the box...no regifting these from last year! Y'all know how much I love a dirty martini and I'll even include my recipe...how you shake it...well, that's up to you!

If vodka isn't your poison, think how great these would be to serve ambrosia in. Don't they just scream "hostess with the mostest"? I do believe even figgy pudding would look beautiful served up in these! Now I know what you're thinking, but not to worry! For those of you who prefer your beverages a little tamer...I haven't forgotten about you. What do you have behind Door #2, Debbie? Well, I'm glad you asked! How's about this Bonjour PINK hot chocolate maker and mug set? I KNOW!!! How stinkin' cute is this and did I mention it's PINK?!?! Perfect for those cold nights in front of the fire and from what I've seen on the weather reports, this is gonna be needed right away. Hurry up y'all....let's get to 100,000 so I can send this out PDQ!

I really need to pause here and say a special thank you to the folks at Cookware.com which is part of CSN Stores for arranging these gifts for y'all. Thank you for the help in making my friends happy little elves and elfettes! And for all you wannabe Emerils and Paulas out there...be sure and check out their websites. CSN Stores and Cookware.com carry a huge array of everything you'll need to prepare the perfect holiday meal with their great selection of food processors, stock pots AND cookware sets. Venture over and see for yourself what fun cooking can be...when you have the right tools! That reminds me, I have a whole lot of cooking to do myself!

OK, I think that's all the excitement you or I can stand for one night. I told you the gifts were gonna be doozies and you wouldn't want to regift any of them...would I lie to y'all? Now, if you'll excuse me, I've got party favors to prepare, invitations to mail and a million other things to get ready for the soiree!