Perfect Presents

Seasons’ Greetings all.  I just love Christmas and the Holiday Season.  I love all the lights and the festivities.  And I really LOVE presents.  The little kid in me just loves to open presents.  But as much as I love to receive presents, I actually love to give presents more.  I was out doing some Christmas shopping earlier today, looking for those perfect gifts to give my friends and family.  There is something special about going out and to try to find the perfect gift for those who are special to you.  It’s fun to bring joy and good cheer to everyone, whether you know them or not.  I know it is not Christmas yet, and we still have about 2 weeks to go before the actual date, but that doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy the season for the whole season, right?!  I am sharing my delightful, early Christmas presents that I was “allowed” to open, with all of you.   As you know, I had my ornament exchange party last week,  Holiday Fun.  All who came had a great time, we all enjoyed some really delicious foods, and everyone went home with some new ornaments for their tree.  We have really eclectic ornaments that fit our eclectic personalities.  These are the new ornaments that now and forever shall also have their places on our trees.

I have a collection of various different frogs, guitars, swimming and scuba diving ornaments because well …..  these are who I am.  Aside from being a chef, and “A Jeanne in the Kitchen”, I am also a swimmer and a scuba/rescue diver, and when I get time, I do play my guitar.  The froggies come from my water aerobics classes that I have been teaching for many, many years.  One of my favorite exercises to do is “froggies” and anyone who has ever taken any of my classes knows this, and hence, the froggie tradition came to be.  This handsome guitar playing frog was from my friends Janet and Bob.

This one to me is the perfect ornament for a Rocky Mountain Christmas.

Then there is my whole little tree that is filled with fun cooking ornaments and beach-themed ornaments from my friends Kathy and Lynn.

Aside from fun ornaments, cook books are ALWAYS a favorite of mine.  As you all know, I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE cookbooks. Some might even say I am obsessed with cookbooks (my husband being the main one).  Last year, my nephew Adam and his wife Claire, from Australia, gave me this delectable beauty.  My dad was an Aussie, from Melbourne, and we still have “heaps of rellies” over there, and fortunately, we got to celebrate the season with some of my Australian family last year.  That was a FABO Christmas.

This year, my friend Delores gave me this libra grande delicioso!  Both of these beautiful cook books will provide a lot of delicious meals, filled with many happy memories, for years and years to come.

Today, I received some pure cookie perfection in the form of DELICIOUS molasses cookies, from some of Santa’s elves out in California, who just happen to be my very good friends Scott and Traci.  It’s already turning out to be a very good Christmas.

So, just in case you were wondering what to get me for Christmas, I have given you some ideas of the perfect gift.  🙂  Happy Holidays everyone.  Enjoy the magic of the season.