He Went to Jared!

Yes, He went to Jared!

But a couple of weeks ago he told me that he will not get me any more gifts because he already got me 4 rings. 

Yes, he got me 4 huge rings or shall I say "rings for my car". I needed new tires for my car especially this time of the year where the winter road is wickedly dangerous and unforgiving. So I was already all set considering that those rings aren't cheap.

But dear Hubby never fails to charm me... both literally and figuratively. So this Christmas... he went to Jared and got me some "charms"... Pandora Charms!

He got me birthstone charms for each birth month of my loved ones.

He put the bag under my pillow and he passed out... so I got a peek before I went to bed and pretended that I didn't know. wink*

Yes, Hubby went to Jared and I got new tires for my car. So, t'is was indeed a wonderful Christmas.

One Wonderful Weekend Holiday

Last night I wrapped gifts and filled up the Christmas Basket till the unholy hours. No, correction, I wrapped our presents till Christmas morning. Yes, folks, I was wrapping gifts for 5 hours and slept for 3 hours to recharge and got back wrapping the rest before the main event.

It's a tradition. Well, getting wasted about wrapping is not really "the" tradition. I have been wrapping gifts since October for my loved ones back home which I had to send home in the "balikbayan box" for the November shipment. And right after that, I started wrapping, buying, buying some more and panic buying for more gifts [not necessarily in that order] till Christmas Eve.

You might ask... how many people do I need to give presents to? Well, I got 3 stepchildren and 2 in-laws, and my Sweetest of course. So do the Math. And I have to give each one of them not less than 7 presents each... with the exemption of Brandon who always get more than a dozen. Well, it's fun opening gifts. It's more fun than wrapping them of course... much less buying them. But then, hey... it's Christmas... the only time you get what you want and go overboard - without guilt... until your bills come. wink*

So this is how our tree looks like before the Main Event.

And this how it looks like after.

The clean up part is up to those who feel the guilt. wink*

Merry Christmas everyone. Stay focus. Stay sober. Stay home [if you have an option. LOL]

For more Weekend Memoirs... Visit OWM Here.

The Christmas Basket - A Gregoire Tradition

I need more time. I just got back from my last minute shopping with my BFF and I needed to run to the store again to buy more stuff to stuff my Christmas Basket.

Photo was stolen from my brother Gary. LOL

Yeah, I know... there's no such thing as Christmas Basket. It's supposed to be Christmas Stockings... but my Sweetest is not a big fan of Santa Claus. Well, I don't mean it in a bad way. Here's the thing, he hates waiting so he got to do what he got to do. Stuffed the baskets with goodies and get if over with while the rest of the world is tracking Santa Claus on Google Earth. Duh! LOL... Oh Yeah, He did track him too.

Anyway, his "supposedly" conviction [or rather justification] of the Christmas Basket is that - Santa gave him the go signal to be independent and do it himself and in the way he pleases instead of waiting for him because he was too busy dropping off presents in the chimneys and taking extra minutes gobbling up on eggnog and cookies.

So what is in the Christmas Basket? Well, those stuff that you need... that you should buy... but you are too lazy to buy them... or you always forget... not because you don't have the money to buy them... or maybe you really don't have enough money to buy them... but you do need them or else.... No, no "or else". Period.

Yes, he puts ordinary stuff in the basket - from hair products to dental hygiene supplies... from car care products to carpet care supplies... from batteries to magic ointment... from laundry soap to dish washing liquid... from power snack to candies and nuts... from cotton buds to tampons. Well, for Brandon... he got some stuff from small toys to comic magazines to piggy bank with some change to start with to candies in a wiggly head Santa container to spy gadgets [sort of] and yes, they are stuffed in a "basket"... hence, the term!

And this... is a Gregoire tradition! And this is how we roll! wink*

Life - is like a tube of toothpaste!

This post brought to you by Toms of Maine. All opinions are 100% mine.

I used to feel that life is tough but I was wrong. Life – is like a tube of toothpaste. Yes, when you got that bitter taste on your mouth… just brush your teeth and you’ll soon enjoy a fresh cool breath. LOL

For an immigrant like me, change is a huge thing. When I moved here from Asia, a lot of adjustment has to be made even as simple as using an unfamiliar toothpaste. Why toothpaste? Well, bear with me, I am talking about metaphor here.

Life is predictably unpredictable. Life is full of Wicked Fresh moments, memories, experiences and discoveries and in my case… I had to adapt and blend in. I had to use what is available and at my new home… Wicked Fresh Toothpaste is the universal toothpaste and Wicked Fresh Mouthwash is the official mouthwash… and I have no choice but to use them. Hahahaha

So what’s up with the toothpaste? Oh yes, I am talking about Tom’s of Maine – the leading local company that has been committed to supporting people, communities and the planet for 40 years here in Maine. They manufacture oral and personal care products made from natural flavor oils and botanical extracts for cavity protection and fresh breath. My family loves the products not just because of the protection we get from them but because they are locally made and we buy local to support Maine economy.

If you have not tried Tom's Of Maine, it’s about time and share your Wicked Fresh moments for a chance to win Wicked Fresh!™ Prizes at ThatsWickedFresh.com (http://bit.ly/9aCdAJ). Check out That's Wicked Fresh contest page here. And yes, you can get social by joining Tom’s of Maine on Facebook and/or follow on Twitter @TomsofMaine.

And boy, did it change my outlook in life? Yes! Big time! Seriously speaking… the toothpaste is just one of the many changes that I need to accept with good faith. Life is tough but with new fresh thinking and wicked humor… I can breathe Maine’s air with cool understanding.

When I woke up today

So today... I woke up to a cold... no! I woke up to a very cold morning. It was just 12 degrees but it did feel so cold sans the snow. Yes, all the dusting we had the other day was all gone! With all the rain the following day... it all melted it away. Whew!

So today... I woke up today to a nice cold snow-less day. It does feel like winter less the snow. And I am not in a mood to sing "Let it snow." No way. Because the whole day today was a nice cloudless sunny day. Yey!

So today... I am going to go to bed hoping that tomorrow will be another snow-less day because tomorrow... is the 2nd Anniversary of my traumatic car accident... which made me hate the snow.

And today... I celebrate my second lease on life.

T’is the Season… for shopping.

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Pier 1 Imports. All opinions are 100% mine.

Before the countdown there is such thing as – the list. It is important that I count down the special people on my shopping list so I won’t miss anyone. Whew, holidays are always tough especially in this tough economy. But the holidays is always about family and friends so I bet everyone wants to make sure that it will be a wonderful one worth remembering without hurting one’s budget.

Good thing I stumbled upon Pier 1Import’s website and found hundreds of stylish and affordable items they have for the holiday season from gifts to candles and fragrance… from dining to home furnishing, accents and décor. And more importantly, they also have seasonal items and special values that can save me a lot of dough. Check them out and you will be surprised how cheap the prices are but not the items because if you will ask me, they are definitely gorgeous.

This year, a new dinnerware set tops the list of my “must haves” for the holiday entertaining. And since I miss home, I want something with Asian touch like the Tranquil Dinnerware set which cost only $5-$6 a piece. This set will surely set peaceful mood at the dinner table and with the price like that… a peace in my pocketbook.

But since I am a busy person and the only time I really have in my hand is the time I spend in front of the computer, I bought most of my holiday gifts for the people I love online... at Pier 1 too. I got some nice fancy jewelries for my stepdaughters, mohair throw for my MIL, clock for my FIL, one of a kind toys for Brandon, a peacock rocker for my Sweetest and scented candles and oils for myself. And yes I also got some cute toys for Toys for Tots.

And speaking of toys do you know that during the months of November and December, you can support Toys for Tots by dropping off an unwrapped toy and/or making a cash donation at the register or you can spread the holiday cheer by liking Pier 1 Imports on Facebook.?For every new fan they get, they will donate $1 to Toys for Tots. So what are you waiting for? Just click “Like” Pier 1 Imports on Facebook and have yourself a wonderful holiday.

Why am I surprised?

I woke up to this sight this morning.

Though I am not really surprised at all considering the fact that it is already December. This is not actually surprisingly ridiculous either because based on my experience since I came here in Maine... around this time of the year we should have accumulated around 10 or more inches of snow. So I am still happy just waking up with a little dusting on the ground even if the temp dove to single digit. Brrrrrrr!

It is not officially winter yet but signs are all over the place. This photo above is taken during my very first winter. I remembered running outside the house when I saw the snow falling on the ground. I was so amazed considering that I lived in a tropical country all my life. It was the most beautiful sight I've ever seen in my entire life... so I thought.

After awhile I got tired of snow storms...and ice storms... and bundling up... and shoveling... and freezing!

That is why, I am just so happy that we only got some dusting today. And hoping that we'll have snow in April... just a day before Spring. LOL.

Say... Lobstah!

I am craving for something yummy the other night. But since I didn't do my grocery a day ahead, I helped myself with yogurt. Well, I can't complain now. Life is tough as it is. I just psyched myself up that "probiotic" is good for my digestive system.

Anyway, I was browsing some of my photo files when I stumbled upon these...

Urgh! Come to think of it... I didn't have any lobsters this year. I took these photos one weekend when I was driving my client home from the Apple Festival and we saw a long queue of people lining up around some steamy huge metal square buckets.

It was a Lobster Lunch for fund raising. We could have stayed and have some servings of lobsters, steamers, corn on a cob, baked potatoes and yes our famous clam chowder... but my client had a huge fit. So there goes my appetite! Maybe next time.

And oh, by the way... here in Maine... we call it - Lobstah!

For more Weekend Memoirs... Visit OWM Here.