Here’s to Girlfriends

Celebrate December — the month for procrastination, e.g. “I’ll take care of that after the first of the year”.

The flower for the month of December is the narcissus and the gem is the turquoise. The color, according to colorstrology.com, is Pagoda Blue. Deep and meditative, this color signifies wisdom, truth and optimism. It’s also a good color to wear if you think somebody’s going to pick a fight with you as it helps to promote tolerance and understanding. Several major religious and cultural events are celebrated in December: Hanukkah, Christmas, the beginning of Kwanzaa. There are so many celebrations surrounding the Winter Solstice (December 22 this year) it would take pages to name them all. It’s the shortest day and longest night of the year. I mark it by going to bed early!

My Best Present

Last month I asked readers to share the best present they ever got or gave. There were surprisingly few responses, unlike the time I asked “how do you keep cool?” and got so many answers we had to run them in two issues.

I’d hardly hit “send” when Patsy Dolan replied with a memory that struck a chord with me. She wrote: Every Christmas when I was growing up, up until the time my Grandpa died in 1974, he always gave me a Life Saver Candy Book. I was 23 when he died. I have carried on the tradition by giving my children and now my grandchildren a Life Saver Candy Book. Even though my grandchildren are older now and don’t believe in Santa Claus, every year they get a Life Saver Book from Santa Claus. My son will be 37 in December and when he was 32, I decided just to give my grandchildren the books. Needless to say, I was in deep trouble because he expected that book – it was tradition. This year he will be on a ship somewhere in the Persian Gulf for Christmas, but believe me, I will be sending him a
Life Saver Candy Book for Christmas and it will be marked ‘from Santa’. Patsy says they still have Crystal Mint flavor and my favorite, Butter Rum.

Betty Mahalik remembers that the best Christmas present she ever got was her son, born on December 23.

Elizabeth Foyt loves her TiVo and the lifetime subscription for service that came with it.

More than one reader wrote that the best present is “presence”; giving airline tickets, or making a long trek to be with loved ones. My husband and I are going to Des Moines to spend Christmas with his family. If you think my story about our road trip this summer was amazing, wait until you read about my first experience with real snow! We are flying this time! The tickets were a present from our younger son who will be there, too.

From Lisa McQuerry: My younger brother died unexpectedly about 5 years ago, and I started a tradition of making either gift or financial contributions to children’s charities in his name each Christmas. A few years ago I started making lampwork glass beads as a hobby – I started selling them a few years ago and it’s since become a nice little sideline income stream for me. Now each Christmas I put a set up for sale on eBay with the proceeds earmarked for different charities. EBay handles all the paperwork of the contribution and I think people are willing to spend a little more since it’s going to a good cause – a win/win for everyone! You can see Lisa’s work at intothefirebeads.com.

Bea Goodwin shared this great story: The greatest gift ever was actually a gift that was given to my husband this Thanksgiving. My step kids and their family come “home” every Thanksgiving and we exchange holiday presents at that time. My stepdaughter is a staunch left–winger democrat. She wears “Peace” jewelry and is a retro–hippy who drives a 60’s VW Van with full–on 60’s “Make love not war” bumper stickers etc. However – knowing that her father is a right–wing Republican and a staunch supporter of our troops, Ginair “adopted a soldier” as a gift to her dad. She presented this in a beautiful hand–written letter which Dad has already framed. By adopting a soldier – she sent Bob’s “present” a great holiday goodie bag and a letter of introduction as well as extra goodies for the soldier’s fellow soldiers. During the presentation of the gift, she played Toby Keith’s “American Soldier” and Bob just wept. What an amazing gift!

The funny thing is, Ginair told me she was initially thinking of “adopting a goat” to feed a poor family! The adopt–a–soldier gift was much more appropriate and her father will always treasure this as his “best gift ever.”

Note: Remember the Adopt a Soldier program that was featured in the Best Friend section of the October newsletter? You can make a difference in the life of someone you might never meet. Get details by going to the website herestogirlfriends.com. All the newsletters are archived.

More Movie Tickets!

Once again Shawn Lane from Cheyenne Marketing has come through with some great offers for this month:

Readers can visit her website for printable tickets for a screening coming up on the 18th for P.S. I Love You. It’s a total chick flick. Just go to the site and print the ticket right there from your computer and then go see the movie. The link is: lasvegasmovieinsider.com/previews/.

Shawn also sent me some tickets for a screening of Charlie Wilson’s War on December 20th at the Brenden Theatre. It stars Tom Hanks and Julia Roberts along with Phillip Seymor Hoffman. Each ticket admits two. If you would like to take advantage of this offer, email me ASAP at Carolyn@herestogirlfriends.com.

A Word from The Sensible Shopper™

Here’s a beautiful gift that supports a good cause, a fabulous young woman, and a very important arts education project. Artist Jennifer Main has created a 2008 calendar of her amazing art work and the net proceeds from the sales go to benefit the Boys & Girls Clubs Fine Art Program. The year-round program reaches over 20,000 young people and encourages artistic expression through classes, special events, and fine art exhibitions. I’ve known Jennifer since she was 18 and wowing the socks off the arts community with her work that showed remarkable depth and sophistication for any artist, let alone one so young.

Calendars are available on her website, jennifermaingallery.com, at Borders, and at her gallery in The Arts Factory, 101 E. Charleston. The next First Friday is January 4. Why not visit her then?

To learn more about the Boys & Girls Club Fine Art Program, call Heather Estus at 367-2582. Ext 223. Cuts in funding of arts programs in public education make projects like this not a luxury but an imperative!

Yippee skippee! I’ve received notice of acceptance as an Affiliate to the best website on the planet for Girlfriend Gifting. And guess what it is – no less than Femail Creations , the company owned by my very own dear friend Lisa Hammond! For every purchase you make through this link, I get a little cash to support my writing habit.

Is this for real?

This is making the rounds – again. The first time I saw it I said “balderdash” (no, of course that’s not really what I said). This time I looked more closely. It’s purported to be from a 1950s home economics text book and it’s called “The Good Wife’s Guide”.

  • Have dinner ready. Plan ahead, even the night before, to have a delicious meal ready on time for his return. This is a way of letting him know that you have be thinking about him and are concerned about his needs. Most men are hungry when they come home and the prospect of a good meal (especially his favorite dish) is part of the warm welcome needed.
  • Prepare yourself. Take 15 minutes to rest so you'll be refreshed when he arrives. Touch up your make–up, put a ribbon in your hair and be fresh-looking. He has just been with a lot of work-weary people.
  • Be a little gay and a little more interesting for him. His boring day may need a lift and one of your duties is to provide it.
  • Clear away the clutter. Make one last trip through the main part of the house just before your husband arrives. Run a dust cloth over the tables.
  • Over the cooler months of the year you should prepare and light a fire for him to unwind by. Your husband will feel he has reached a haven of rest and order, and it will give you a lift too. After all, catering for his comfort will provide you with immense personal satisfaction.
  • Minimize all noise. At the time of his arrival, eliminate all noise of the washer, dryer or vacuum. Encourage the children to be quiet.
  • Be happy to see him.
  • Greet him with a warm smile and show sincerity in your desire to please him.
  • Listen to him. You may have a dozen important things to tell him, but the moment of his arrival is not the time. Let him talk first - remember his topics of conversation are more important than yours.
  • Make the evening his. Never complain if he comes home late or goes out to dinner or other places of entertainment without you. Instead, try to understand his world of strain and pressure and his very real need to be at home and relax.
  • Don't greet him with complaints and problems.
  • Make him comfortable. Have him lean back in a comfortable chair or have him lie down in the bedroom. Have a cool or warm drink ready for him
  • Arrange his pillow and offer to take off his shoes. Speak in a low, soothing and pleasant voice.
  • Don't ask him questions about his actions or question his judgment or integrity. Remember, he is the master of the house and as such will always exercise his will with fairness and truthfulness. You have no right to question him.
  • A good wife always knows her place.

I think I’ll write a “Good Husband’s Guide”. Want to help?

Best Friend

I always end this section with an invitation for readers to share a story about their Best Friend. Imagine my surprise when I got this from my very own best friend, Betty Ann Jones.

I want to jot a note about my best friend. Her name is Carolyn, and I think we all know that she is many people’s best friend.

She is the sister I never had the fun of growing up with and sharing childhood things. She is the person I have shared my adult life with, and I continue to enjoy her spirit, fun of adventure, and her love of shopping! Carolyn became a part of my life when our sons we’re “bus buddies” on their way to Joe Mackey 6th grade center. They are now 40! Carolyn has been with me through many wonderful experiences and supported me through many tough ones too. I had brain surgery several years ago. After the surgery, Carolyn called me and asked me what I needed. I told her a scarf. You see, I had very long hair, and they had cut all except one ringlet. I guess these days that would be the fashion, but at that time, I was devastated and it simply wasn’t the style. Carolyn came to the hospital and brought me a beautiful scarf, and helped me put it over my bandages. After the bandages were removed and I was moving around, she took me to Frederick’s to buy a wig. We giggled at their products, and mused about which style I could wear. I decided to be a blond, brunette and a redhead! Carolyn continues to be there for my family and we will always be here for hers. Thank you, Carolyn, I cherish your friendship.

Betty Ann Jones has lived in Las Vegas most of her life. She has some great stories about the “old days”. Like me her original job title was “mom”. When the kids got older she went back to UNLV and got her degree. I was so proud, sitting in the audience watching her in her cap and gown. (Diana Ross also received a degree that day, but hers was “honorary”. Betty earned hers.) Betty Ann now has one of the most important jobs in the world, giving children their first start on the road to a happy and productive life. She teaches kindergarten. Every year she impacts the lives of anywhere from 60 to 80 little people, many of whom don’t speak English. Don’t tell her husband, but she spends most of what she makes buying things to make their learning experience more fun. Her dedication as a teacher in the face of so many challenges is awe inspiring. If you think that teachers don’t earn their pay, just call my friend Betty Ann Jones!

Do you have a “best friend” you’d like to share with the rest of us? Please send her story to letstalk@herestogirlfriends.com. (Be sure you get her permission first!)

Where the Girls Are

This month most organizations are hosting holiday parties for their members. Send announcements about January events for women to letstalk@herestogirlfriends.com, as straight email text or MS Word attachments. Please, no PDFs, photos or graphics. They won’t be published and it slows me down!

Cheers!
Carolyn Stephens
herestogirlfriends.com


To subscribe to this newsletter click here.
To UnSubscribe click here & put “REMOVE” in the subject line.