It's warmer today than it was at this time yesterday and going to mid 40's.  The snow is melting fast.  There doesn't seem to be much wind today, though, so maybe the tree branches will stop littering the yard.  A white Christmas?  With highs in the mid 50's and rain tomorrow, I doubt it.

I was wrapping some presents yesterday and realized that I didn't have to purchase wrapping paper unless it was really cheap.  I used the paper that was used to stuff boxes.  It must be cheap to use because the lengths were over 12 feet long?  Just straightened it out...no, you don't have to iron it although some folks do!  You can use it plain or decorate it with crayons, markers, stamps.  I like to use it plain and add some string or jute to around it, tying in a bow.  And if you have some available, add a small piece of pine or maybe a pinecone.

I have also used fabric to wrap presents...a pillowcase is great for those hard to wrap gifts.  Newsprint comics are colorful but the ink does rub off.  For smaller items you can use magazine pages or plain copy paper.  And instead of ribbon use yarn, embroidery floss, or even strips of fabric.

And remember what we used to use to hold the paper around gifts?  There's a scene in the old 'Miracle on 34th Street' that shows it.  The wife of the prosecutor is wrapping gifts and she uses it...a sticker, the old fashioned type that you had to lick.  With the abundance of stickers today, you can even use them instead of tape.

My plans for today include making three different refrigerator cookies:  depression caramel cookies, sugar cookies & ginger snap cookies.  All three will be rolled into a log shape, covered tightly with plastic wrap and will keep in the refrigerator up to a week (You can freeze them for a longer period of time.) although I have kept mine the refrigerator for longer periods of time.  What's nice is that you can bake them as needed rather than baking them all at once.  And the really great thing about these cookies are how inexpensive they are.  You just need small amounts of basic items like butter, flour, sugar and spices.

Christmas is one week from today!  Hanukkah will end on Monday. Kwanzaa begins the day after Christmas.  And New Year's is the week after Christmas.  Lot's going on! If you celebrate any of these or even all of them be sure to give yourself time to rest and relax.  Even if your celebrations are low key, they're still something out of your normal everyday routine and will take more time, energy, etc.  So schedule that you-time to replenish yourself physically, mentally and emotionally.

Enjoy your day...

Talk with you tomorrow...