Lightening Online

It’s been like Christmas around here this week with all sorts of parcels arriving in the post. We only get the mail once or twice a week but every time we’ve picked it up lately there have been parcels, parcels and more parcels!!!! Some things that I’ve ordered for gifts but also PRESENTS for me.

And guess what? PRESENTS make me smile. A LOT!!!!

I used to think that made me materialistic but now I understand that it’s one of my primary love languages. I enjoy GIVING gifts and I’m learning to enjoy receiving them (once upon a time I didn’t feel “worthy” to receive gifts).

One of the things I’m really enjoying through my online presence is participating in Secret Santa style swaps. I was involved in 2 this year and BOTH of them arrived this week.

The first was from my Aussie Bloggers Secret Office Santa:

Aren’t they beautiful? Thank you to whoever my Secret Santa was (I’m yet to find out - wonder if I ever will).

I also sent something pink as my gift to another Aussie Blogger (wonder if they read my blog and will get this hint?)

The other Secret Santa I participated in this year (as I also did last year) was as part of the Simple Savings forum. They set a limit of $5 and I enjoy the challenge of finding things to send to someone that are under that limit.

I haven’t had a chance to photograph what I got but it was a lovely Christmas handtowel, some soap, a couple of tree decorations and a penguin pin.

Also in the mail this week were a Beauty and Lace bag of goodies and a box of a new product I’ve been sent to try and to tell you about. More on that once I’ve had time to try them. The look rather interesting though.

With all the Christmas parties and concerts and so on that we’ve had this week, I think Christmas has well and truly arrived!!! As I write this (Friday night), Farmboy and the children are out at our local Christmas Tree event. So the kids will receive their first present from Santa tonight.

This weekend is a busy one. We have a wedding AND a birthday party on Saturday and then a Sunday School Christmas break-up (which I was responsible for buying and wrapping 50 gifts for - what fun!!!) and the kids are then performing at the town Christmas Carols so it’s going to be a rather busy weekend (which is why I’m home as I write this instead of out).

I hope you’re finding time in the busy-ness of the season to smile.

Happy Smiley Saturday everyone!