Christmas | Funkidivagirl.com

I’ve reposted this blog post since 2008 and every year I get some interesting responses. I would love to hear yours. The question of the day is:

SANTA CLAUS: DO YOU OR DON’T YOU?

Look at this man; does he give you a warm feeling inside or make you want to spit on the ground in disgust? The question of the hour is: Santa Claus-do you or don’t you?

I had a magical memory of Santa Claus that stayed with me until just a few years ago. Long ago when I was a little girl and sleeping on Christmas Eve, I heard a noise in my living room. I jumped out of bed and peeked in my parents’ room; they were asleep. Then I looked in the living room and sure enough, there was a figure of a man putting something under the tree. Well, since I didn’t want Santa to sprinkle pepper in my eyes, I ran back to my bed and stayed in there the rest of the night. In the morning there were presents under the tree as usual, but I had a secret–I had actually seen Santa Claus! Even when I grew up and stopped believing in Santa, there was always a part of me that remembered that night and said “but still….there was someone in the living room.” I never discussed that night with my parents until recently and I wished that I hadn’t; my mother told me that it was my Uncle Robert putting my gift under the tree. Of course, that makes sense as there had to be some logical explanation. But it was nice to have that magical memory all these years; to just simply believe.

I don’t remember when I stopped believing or how. I don’t think it was anything dramatic; I just sort of gradually grew out of it. There was no drama involved–unlike my son’s revelation. He was 8 years old when he asked me point blank if there was a Santa Claus. I looked at him to gauge if he really wanted to know and he asked again straight-up, “Mommy, tell the truth; is there a Santa Claus?” What else could I say when he asked like that? I was less nervous telling him where babies come from! I took a deep breath and told him the truth. And then he burst into tears.

Months later when Christmas had come and gone and we had a rare moment alone with our son, my husband and I asked him about his reaction to my “confession.” He then proceeded to rage about how we had lied to him, betrayed him and how he could never trust us again. Wow; my husband and I were shocked! Neither one of us had ever felt “betrayed” by our parents about Santa, but now that I have talked to others, I have learned that his reaction is not uncommon. I have several friends who felt betrayed like our son and consequently do not introduce Santa Claus to their children. Other friends feel that Santa Claus dilutes the true meaning of Christmas and therefore do not make Santa a part of their Christmas celebration.

While I can appreciate the logic of my friends and honor my son’s feelings, Santa still visits our house every year. To me, believing in Santa Claus is like going to Disney World; yeah, the rides are fun, but I go to see The Mouse. Without him and the Disney “magic”, it’s just another amusement park. My son has since calmed down; he is old enough now to appreciate the magic of Santa Claus through his baby sister’s eyes and he has fun with it. But even so, we are careful to put Santa Claus in the proper perspective; he is just a fun part of Christmas–not the reason. We do not go to elaborate extremes to make his presence more real, just some cookies and milk left out on Christmas Eve. I do take my daughter to see Santa at the mall, but I don’t think she really cares one way or the other; I do it because I am competitive. See, there is a very popular Santa at the high-end mall here in Atlanta; he has a real white beard and longish white hair and is great with the kids. The wait to see him used to be hours long, but a few years ago they implemented an online appointment system. Great idea, but the appointments were booked immediately and I could never get a slot. It became an (obsessive) goal of mine to secure a space to see this Santa! Now, for the second year in a row I have been one of the lucky (or crazy) people online the day the appointments open and scored a time to see Santa. Next I emailed the neighbors to gloat.

I’m certain that I only have a couple more years left for my daughter to sit on Santa’s lap. An inquisitive child, she is already asking too many questions. Maybe I can tell her that Santa is like the CIA and only operates on a “need to know” basis. Do you think that will buy me a few more years? This is my last child and I want to keep the magic alive! I want her to believe!

What about you? Santa Claus: do you or don’t you? Discuss.

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I love to bake during Christmastime! I don’t bake sweets any other time of the year because my sweet-toothed daughter and husband don’t need any encouragement, but I indulge them during the holiday season. Usually my daughter helps, so we get to spend time together and the results are delicious.

We like to leave cookies for Santa Claus that we have decorated ourselves. Sometimes we make gingerbread men and sometimes we make butter cookies. I know your temptation is to buy the roll of cookie dough at the grocery store, because you’re thinking, “The fun is in decorating, who cares about the taste. Besides, those refrigerator cookies taste pretty good!” Those refrigerator cookies don’t taste too bad, but quality matters. Do you really know what’s in that cookie dough? This recipe is not hard at all and the cookies are delicious. Make the dough a day ahead and then when it’s time to bake and decorate, it’s just as easy as store-bought dough. I’m sure Santa will appreciate the extra effort.

The Best Christmas Cookie Cutter Recipe

These Gingerbread and Lemon Sandwich Cookies are fancier than the butter cookies and they make perfect gifts. I made these cookies last year for my daughter’s teachers. I think these are the best cookies that I have ever made; they are divine! I’m making them again this year for sure.

Gingerbread and Lemon Sandwich Cookies

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Funki and oh-so-helpful organizing & life-hacking tips by yours truly. Like McGyver, who could dismantle a bomb with a roll of duct tape, a toothpick and a nail file, I am Ma-Gyver, organizer of everything and life-hacker extraordinaire. From time to time I will be bringing you my tips and tricks for keeping an orderly house and mind.

Christmastime is here, my favorite time of the year! My tree is decorated, the Christmas cards have been sent off and pretty much all the gifts have been bought.

Ugh, you say, she’s “one of those organized types.” Hey, don’t hate me, learn from me! I want to help you get organized for Christmas; it’s not too late!

This is my secret.

Check out these blog posts about how I get organized for Christmas and I promise you can do it too.

A Ma-Gyver Christmas, Part 1

A Ma-Gyver Christmas, Part 2

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Paris in December? Isn’t Paris a spring and summer destination? Well yes it is, but I can now tell you that it is a great winter vacation as well. And even though we were in Paris for Le Web, a tech conference, many tourists visit Paris in December. While it wasn’t as crowded as it was during our summer visit, I was not alone during my visits to museums, churches and other Paris sites. Many Germans, Italians, Japanese and French people were on holiday in Paris (I didn’t see many Americans). Despite the cold, rainy weather that Paris has this time of year, it’s a beautiful place to visit in December because the entire city is decorated for Christmas.

Big department store, tiny boutiques, restaurants, cafés, churches, squares and entire streets–they are all decorated for Christmas! I was giddy with joy every time I stepped outside our apartment door because I love Christmas decorations. Best of all were the Christmas huts selling gifts, sweets, food and my husband’s favorite of all, vin chaud (hot wine). The Champs-Elysées had the most huts to stroll–blocks and blocks. Christmas music was playing over the loud speakers, traditional songs we know, but in French. We strolled down the Champs during the day and came back at night to see the lights. There were also Christmas huts elsewhere in the city; the metro stop near our apartment was very festive as was the area surrounding Sacre Coeur.

Galeries Lafayette has a “rock and roll Christmas” theme this year. The holiday windows are best seen in this video that I shot with my iPhone. It’s quite an event to come view the windows; it was packed with both adults and children.

Photos:

On a street in Montmartre

A Christmas hut outside of Sacre Coeur selling vin chaud.

Vin chaud (hot wine)

St.-Germain-des-Prés, the oldest church in Paris.

Square Léopold-Archille

Printemps, window display of Karl Lagerfeld

Printemps, lights outside

Pierre Hermé

Notre Dame

Meringues sold in Christmas huts on Champs-Elysées

Inside the store Merci

Outside the store Merci

Ladurée

Galeries Lafayette, window display

Galeries Lafayette, Christmas tree inside the store

Galeries Lafayette, lights outside

Ferris Wheel in Jardin des Tuileries

Fabric store in Montmartre

Champs-Elysées at night

Champs-Elysées Christmas hut nativity scene

Champs-Elysées Christmas huts at night

Champs-Elysées Christmas huts

Café de Flore

Dancing Santa bear in Montmartre

Abessess Metro station in Montmartre

Joyeux Noël!

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I have looked for many years, but most of the nativity scenes that I have found were not quite right. Either they were too big or too crafty-looking or just not my style. I mean Jesus is my style, but if possible I wanted the nativity scene to match my house and decor. This year I found something I like at Pier 1 Imports. Not quite a whole nativity scene, but the major players are there.

It’s pretty tall; Joseph stands at about 16 inches, but it doesn’t take up much room. I have it on the fireplace mantle. I like that it is colorful, sparkly, modern and abstract. There are no facial features, but none are needed; we know who they are.

They are, of course, the reason that we celebrate Christmas at all.

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