As you know there are too many traditions to list SL but I will tell you one that I won't be doing again next year...consuming an entire bottle of Amaretto by myself! 36 hours later and I'm still out of it. It ruined my Bailey tree-trimming time. This is the first year I wasn't able to toast in my tree in nearly 15 years!

Anyway, glad you had fun trimming your tree and Romeo is as cute as ever.

It was fun hanging out on Friday and Saturday -- even if you forced me to speak with a yellow belly ;-). Just kidding of course. Challenge is still on.

TTYL YFSL

Since you asked...We always get an advent calender, the kind that has a piece of chocolate behind every day. We have an artificial tree from hell that we struggle with and swear we will get rid of--that aggravating tree has become a tradition I suppose. On Christmas Eve we watch "Scrooge" the old Christmas Carol movie and we eat Indian food. Every time I see that movie I resolve to "make mankind my business". ~ In my other life, I was an interior designer and it's a tradition for me to make a stupendous tree. It's fun to try to out-do myself every year.
~~Lori, your posts are so insightful and well written. I look forward to reading them. I hope this coming year brings you all your heart's desires. I hope you ride the karma train to great places next year.
Love,
Kelly

My husband and I always send the kids to Grandma's house on the 23rd and have the house to ourselves. We always try at least one different type of food that we've never eaten (but keep ham sandwiches on hand, just in case)! We also drink a bottle of our favorite wine - which costs $130 a bottle. We know that it is way too much for a bottle of wine...we figure there's no point in working all year if you can't overspend once in a while!

I have a question for you guys. I know that you have to dress conservatively for your own Christmas party; however, is it okay to wear a really hot dress (with the perfect amount of cleavage reveal) to your husband's party? The dress is just the right balance between classy and slightly slutty! Wear it...or play it safe and wear the same thing that I'll wear to my work party?

Jana, wear the sexy dress that you feel gorgeous in. How often do you get a chance to? It will remind everyone at your hubby's work what a lucky guy he is.
Love,
Kelly

Hi Jana -- My thoughts are this: Anytime you can pull off classy + slutty = DO IT!

Why don't I understand why you want to look slutty at your HUSBAND'S Christmas party?? Make sure the "class" outweighs the "slut" otherwise his coworkers will be talking about his "skanky" wife....

Goodness, I hope I didn’t leave the impression that I actually want to look like a slut at my husband’s party; that was meant to be a joke! I assume that the word “skanky” is a derogatory term (it’s not a slang word used in this area). I dress ultra conservative for my job and my weekends consist of jeans and sweaters. I was kidding about getting to dress just a bit more grown up and slightly sexy for the formal event. My dress is the classical “little black dress” with a bit of a low cut front. I really don’t know of too many women that would set a goal of looking like a hooker at any party…I certainly wouldn’t!
I think that more women should wear such things one in a while – you would be surprised how good it makes you feel to go out in an outfit that you wouldn’t wear to work. You should do it - well that is if you're a woman...not so much if you're a man! Hope you enjoy all of your holiday parties. Jana

Jana -- pay no mind to "InnocentBystander" --- only a man would post such a comment and a misguided man, at that. Every single woman reading this understands that dressing sexy to make yourself and your husband feel good is perfectly fine and healthy thing to do. None of us females are envisioning you showing up at your husbands office party in a leather miniskirt, no panties ala Britney, with chains and stacked heels and red lipstick. Only a man would imagine that. I was picturing a very sophisticated black cocktail dress cut just above the knee with some cleavege and curve enhancing clean but classy lines. Whatever you wear I'm sure you will look beautiful!! Email me a pic! I'd love to see the outfit.

I wish someone hadn't felt the need to make you self conscious. Wearing what makes you feel beautiful and a little sexy is not bad! It was obvious that you weren't going to show up with stilettos and a whip. ~~ and please, may mankind think of something more interesting to talk about at parties than somebody's skank.
Love,
Kelly

skank n.

One who is disgustingly foul or filthy and often considered sexually promiscuous. Used especially of a woman or girl.

loser
- noun

someone or something that is marked by consistently or thoroughly bad quality, performance, etc.

Thank you for the kind words. You’re right – I should never be bothered by such words…still not too sure why I was. I thought your readers would know that I was joking about wearing a dress that was slightly sluty…translation…a dress that is not a ‘teacher’ or ‘mom’ dress! Of course, I would NEVER do anything that would embarrass my husband. I wore my dress and had tons of compliments. Lori, you described the dress almost perfectly; it was a black dress that hit just above the knee, a sash around the waist, and a deep neckline.
We didn’t take our camera, so no pictures – below is the site where you can see my “not so skanky” dress! Jana's Dress

http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/2927730/0~2376776~2374327~2374331~6001765~6001769?mediumthumbnail=Y&origin=category&searchtype=&pbo=6001769&P=1

Jana, the dress is gorgeous! Just what I was picturing, classy and elegant with a little bit if sass. I'm sure your husband was very proud walking into that party with you on his arm. Thanks for sharing and happy holidays to you!