THE BEST CHRISTMAS PRESENT

How blessed we are to have been given the most wonderful gift of all--Christ Himself. Merry Christmas!

5 Ways to Get Better Service at the Mall

1.  WEAR A SMILE:  People are naturally attracted to happy people, so avoid looking rushed, annoyed, or stressed out.  A warm smile, but not a big grin, goes a long way to lighten things up.  You might start feeling more cheerful yourself!

2.  FIX YOUR HAIR AND MAKEUP:  Check yourself in the mirror before you leave the house.  Since I'm allergic to most makeup, all I can wear is lipstick; so I make sure to keep it freshly applied during the day.  Pay special attention to your hair as well.

3.  DRESS WELL:  It's amazing what a difference a nicer coat or jacket can make.  In warmer climates, a pretty blouse or shirt with sleeves looks dressier than a tank top or sleeveless shirt, especially when paired with lightweight slacks or crops instead of shorts. 

4.  FRAME YOUR FACE:  Now that you're smiling, choose simple accessories that you enjoy wearing.  Earrings, a nice scarf or necklace, or a pretty pin make a simple outfit a little more attractive.  Don't overdo it, though.  Think office look rather than party!

5.  LIGHTEN YOUR LOAD:  Too many bulky packages can not only make you look stressed, but also make you feel that way--because you are!  Either bring a tote bag with you to consolidate packages, or take a few minutes to put them in your car before continuing your shopping.  If you're shopping at a large mall, it might be a good idea to move your car to the other end for a shorter walk.  Sounds crazy, but I do that all the time.  Not only does it help my feet, but I also get to sit down for a few minutes in the car.

These tips are from my own experience on both sides of the counter.  I learned this years ago when I stopped at a department store one night after work.  Since I was still in office clothes, I got noticeably better service that day than ever before.  From then on, I've followed these guidelines whenever I shop!

BTW, salespeople get stressed too, especially at this time of year.  You can help by being patient, having your cash or credit card ready and being polite.  Happy shopping!

I'M BACK!

My computer has finally been fixed (for now, anyway!)  I'll catch up with you later to share some of the Christmas cards I made.

Meanwhile, this is a card I made for my friend, Joan, who loves horses.  The stamp is from Our Daily Bread Designs, and I used colored pencils on the image.  I'm making a set of six with matching envelopes as her Christmas gift.  Each card will be embellished a little differently as I go along.

Speaking of colored pencils, I really enjoy using them.  I find it very relaxing to sit somewhere and color with them.  They're very portable, so I can even take a few with me to a friend's house or even a doctor's office for the waiting room.  They also blend very nicely.    I used 3 shades of brown for the horses, 2 shades of green for the grass, and purple for the flowers.  That's just 6 pencils and the pre-stamped  images to carry with me, plus a clean eraser.

Next is the box and belly band I made to go with it.  The horses on the oval aren't as faint IRL as they look here.  Since I won't be mailing it, I was able to use heavier twine on the box.

By the way, have you seen all the adult coloring books that have been popping up on all the magazine racks?  I've even seen them in the supermarket!  A little too busy for me, though. However, I do have a beautiful butterfly coloring book that shows the correct colors for each butterfly and blank ones to color that are simple and fun for practicing.

That's it for now.  I still have lots of Christmas preparations to take care of (like you, I'm sure...) so it may be a few days before I post again.  Thanks for checking in!