There was another song on my favorite childhood Christmas album, called “It’s the Day Before the Night Before Christmas.” Click the title to hear it play on YouTube. That’s what today is! The day before the night before Christmas – super exciting but oh so scary at the same time if you’re not ready!! (I SO have to track down a copy of Santa Claus is Coming to Town, by the Peter Pan Caroleers!)

Holiday Shout-Out!

I was absolutely dreading having to go out yesterday to shop! So unfounded…not only did I discover some great, new products, which I can’t wait to share with you after the holidays, I was helped by so many lovely and delightful people, they made yesterday a joy! I wish I had everyone’s name, but I at least wanted to give a special shout-out to the amazing women at Lush (new discovery for me and it’s a good one!), the girls at Madewell, (am loving the gift I got there, plus one for me!) and the always-wonderful team at Nordstrom! Last, but certainly not least, I met the beautiful Laura who works for Stila cosmetics and was at my local Ulta yesterday. If you haven’t ever tried Stila, expect to hear about it in 2013! Stila makes the best and most finely-milled eye shadow. Everyone has to have Stila’s Kitten shadow in their make-up arsenal. Thanks, Laura, for helping me find that fab blue eyeliner color!

Handbag Horror!

In the midst of all this good stuff, I realized how much my shoulder was bothering me yesterday and figured it was just lugging 30 shopping bags around. When I got home, my husband said, “It’s because your handbag weighs 25 pounds.” Of course, I bristled. I get kind of defensive about my handbag. No way it weighs 25 pounds! In all honesty, I have been dragging around this monster Coach tote since late summer and haven’t looked past the first layer inside since about, hmm…July.

Exhausted last evening, I still thought, maybe I should clean this baby out before setting out again tomorrow. Just for fun, I dropped it on the scale with a thud. 27.4 pounds! You gotta be kidding me? I’ve dieted throughout 2012 and I’m carrying around an extra 25+ pounds? What’s IN this bag?

I got out the top layer easily enough – cosmetic bag (ok, it’s a little stuffed,) wallet, cell phone, typical, everyday stuff. Receipts and miscellaneous paper – a lot of it – for a few inches. Two different earrings – so THAT’S where they are! Three brand new tubes of my favorite lipstick I’ve replaced twice since the summer. A credit card I reported lost a month ago (sorry Visa!) I peered in to the murky depths of my bag, trying to see bottom, when suddenly a huge, puff of white powder popped up! Jumping back in alarm, I momentarily panicked. Was it anthrax? Did I leave my bag somewhere unattended? Oh my God, will I spend the holiday in the hospital, harm my family or worse? No – it was just a broken compact of pressed powder, pulverized to dust after many months of neglect. Yes, I had to spoon it out. Blew it off of 18 one dollar bills. Sweet! Then, in a powdery haze, the dull, gleam of coins appeared. A lot. I didn’t count it all, but conservatively, I had about $50.00 worth of change in the bottom of my bag.

Yikes! No wonder this baby was so heavy! Not only have I been putting a permanent dent in my shoulder, this bag could be elevated to like, lethal weapon status! No wonder my hair stylist exclaimed, “Wow, this is heavy!” when I handed her my bag to hang up at my appointment last week. No surprise my friends ask, “What are you carrying in this thing?” when I asked them to hold it for a sec. Now I know why my seat belt light comes on every time I put my handbag on the passenger seat – the car thinks it’s a small person!

So, lesson for Sunday, do a Christmas clean-out of your handbag! Maybe you’ll find a nice little stash of cash – after all, the day after Christmas 50% off sales are only three days away!

Thanks for visiting today and enjoy the day before the night before Christmas!

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