From mai family to yours. It’s the day to see Him working in your life, thank God for the blessings of your loved ones, eat loads of amazeball foods, open pressies and start thinking about your new years resolutions!
What are you thankful for this Christmas?
The holidays are so important to me. As I’ve gotten older I don’t care so much about the presents, I’m all about the feeling of everyone you love together in one place. I just busted thru my family albums here at home in San Jose and wanna share pics with you thru the holidays! This was me when I was about 13, (shuddit, you love the perm), and the people in the picture are my little cousin, my aunts, and my grandfather the very first year they all came to America from Vietnam. It was so exciting because there were 13 people living in our 3 bedroom home, and the stove was covered in bubbling pots of Pho because duh, that’s what we Mai’s have for Christmas!
What’s your favorite thing about the holidays? And of course, what’s cooking for dinner?
…..when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse;
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there;
The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads;
And mamma in her ‘kerchief, and I in my cap,
Had just settled down for a long winter’s nap,
When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.
The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow
Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below,
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny reindeer,
With a little old driver, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick.
More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name;
“Now, Dasher! Now, Dancer! Now, Prancer and Vixen!
On, Comet! On Cupid! On, Donder and Blitzen!
To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!
Now dash away! dash away! dash away all!”
As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky,
So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,
With the sleigh full of toys, and St. Nicholas too.
And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.
As I drew in my hand, and was turning around,
Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound.
He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,
And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot;
A bundle of toys he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a peddler just opening his pack.
His eyes — how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow;
The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath;
He had a broad face and a little round belly,
That shook, when he laughed like a bowlful of jelly.
He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself;
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread;
He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
And filled all the stockings; then turned with a jerk,
And laying his finger aside of his nose,
And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose;
He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight,
“Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night.”
I can’t wait! Time for family, friends, FOOD, presents and overall holiday frikkin cheer!!!!
!Is all of your shopping done?
http://www.thestreet.com/story/11347392/1/recession-specials-gifts-for-women-from-10-to-500.html
By Jerald Leslie:
BOSTON (TheStreet) — Diamonds may be a girl’s best friend, but fashion expert Jeannie Mai says you don’t have to hock one this holiday season to afford great gifts for the women on your shopping list.
“What I love about fashion today is that the trend has been moving toward cheap, chic designers,” says Mai, host of the Style Network’s How Do I Look? makeover show. “We’re still in (an economic downturn), so people are losing their taste for $1,200 handbags.”
Mai thinks it’s easier to pick gifts for women than for men because males tend to want a very specific make or model of something, whereas she thinks females really do believe it’s the thought that counts.
“If a man wants a piece of electronics, he’s probably spent all of this time researching it and wants a very specific model,” she says. “Girls can be picky, too — but even if someone gets me something that I never wear, I still appreciate the fact that a man went to the women’s department to pick it out. I find that in itself adorable.”
Here’s a look at some great presents that Mai recommends in various price points for all of the women on your gift-giving list this holiday:
Gifts for $25 or less
Mai gives the nod at this price point to so-called “fashion” eyeglasses — non-prescription glasses that you wear for style, not to correct your vision.
“Eyewear is the one accessory that’s faster than lipstick to throw on, yet easy to maintain,” says the expert, who’s nicknamed these products “flasses” (short for “fake eyeglasses”). Available online, at vintage stores or at trendy shops that carry eyewear accessories, these products start at as little as $10 a pair.
But Mai says they offer “instant sophistication and mysterious sex appeal.”
$25-$50 presents
Steve Madden shoe clips cost just $25 or so each, but can customize virtually any pair of women’s shoes.
Mai says these jewelry-like accessories “fit all heels, throw a completely different edge into your everyday shoes and are stackable to create a subtle or striking effect. (They’re the) best accessory item I’ve found for all women — hands down.”
You can find shoe clips on the Web or in many stores.
http://www.thestreet.com/story/11347392/1/recession-specials-gifts-for-women-from-10-to-500.html
For those of you who follow my twitter or Facebook, you know I’m always floating between my hometown of San Jose, California and Harrisburg, Pennsylvania to visit the nieces, nephews, and cousins in mai life. I don’t know about you, but back then I was all pumped to put that wish list together for Santa! Here’s a pic of me opening presents early on Christmas Eve so we could get it on for Kris Kringle to make his yearly visit:
Don’t lie. You love the perm.
I still remember to this day my best gift ever was Limited Edition Rainbow Brite, that I obi brought to school the next day.
So lets be honest, I have NO IDEA WHAT TO GET KIDS. Yet I always want to be auntie that gives unique and different things they’ve mentioned they’ve needed! And who doesn’t love a one stop shop right?? Well..I ttly tripped out when I saw I was able to land most at Avon.com. Cuz remember: kids will tell you to take that “thought” and shove it. 
For the Fashionistas:
I kind of wish this thing came in XXXL..for me. Not only is it just downright delectable, but how many little girls have ten thousand little hair clips and earrings or rings that they just don’t put away? Now they can hang em’ in an adorable fashionable way. Since I’m all about prayers, I actually am wrapping this one with a few prayers of my own tucked under the ballet straps for my cousin to grow on.
Yo, I wish I had kicks like this. Way to teach a kid to stand out and strut.
Girls aren’t the only one would watch mommy getting ready! Here you can teach your shorty to grow up a groomed dude, just like daddy. Take some tips from my nephew Frankie here- no lather needed!
Ok, this gift is dedicated to Elsie, my lil niece in PA. It all happened one night when she came over to spend the night and although I heart the girl, I want nothing to do with sleeping with her because I swear she thinks she’s a breakdancer in her dreams. So I always have her on the couch next to me or on the floor, with layers of blankets till she looks like fill pastry. Well not any more! Thanks to Avon, I can now get her this pimpin princess sleeping bag that has you crowned and dressed ready to go the moment you’re tucked in.
My fave is that she’ll never notice if she’s gained weight. One size fits all.
Hope I helped your shopping!! #Pattingmyselfonback.
Read the article here:
http://news.yahoo.com/holiday-photo-cards-195522899.html
NEW YORK (AP) — The Santa hats, beach background or dressed-up dog in the holiday card photo might be saying more than “Merry Christmas” or “Happy New Year.”
The image can be a snapshot of the past 12 months: where you’ve been, what you’re thinking, your outlook, your outfits.
Yes, it’s a big message to come in a 5-by-7 envelope, but you already knew a picture could be worth a thousand words. Now consider that this card might be the only piece of snail mail you send to your loved ones all year. While email and social media makes it easy to stay in frequent communication with far-flung friends and relatives, those tweets, texts and updates can be deleted or forgotten as quickly as they arrive.
A holiday card, in contrast, “is really a chance to make a statement,” says Kemper Johnson, visual director of MyPublisher.com, an online custom publishing site.
“You’re creating your own greeting card. It has meaning, and most people you’re sending it to know will know that it’s your home in the background or the vacation you were on, or it’s an introduction to you and your family to a new friend,” he says.
So are you the traditionalist who lines the family up in front of the fireplace? The goofball who each year dresses up her Chihuahua in a new sequined frock? The proud parent who wants to show off the family’s football star and best ballerina on the same card?
The right photo will look different for each family, and likely will be a different type each year, says Meg Bohnert, card stylist for Shutterfly, the online photo site. You’ll know it when you see it, she says.
Her advice: “You want a photo that is ‘in a moment.’”
That doesn’t mean perfect, though. Sometimes it’s the frame shot just before or after the posed photo that better captures the real family dynamic.
Next, think about color. That means not only the background and text but also the hues of your clothes or the setting, says TV style adviser Jeannie Mai. “Color is what will jump out of the envelope first.”
White, for example, is a way to “hit the reset button” and convey a change, either in look or lifestyle, she says, while peach or blush tones say “romance — that you’re feeling lovey dovey.”
If you like a strong, polished look, consider browns and grays mixed with black, suggests Mai, who hosts Style Network’s “How Do I Look?”
She envisions her own card this year to feature a natural, woodsy setting with fresh greenery. “I want my card to say to my recipient that there’s a new year ahead and a lot to look forward to.”
Other tips:
—Black and white: This is either nostalgic or modern, says Johnson. With the traditional trappings — those Fair Isle sweaters, plaids or snowy landscapes — your message is one of a classic, timeless holiday greeting, he says, while something sleek without clutter is more sophisticated and subtle.
There also are practical reasons to use a black-and-white image. If there’s too much clutter in the background, it’ll be tempered, and will neutralize clashing colors.
—Coordinated clothes: “Matching outfits can do a couple of different things,” San Francisco-based photographer Jennifer Chaney observes. “It can say, ‘We’re very traditional,’ it can say, ‘We have a sense of humor’, but it also can convey that you don’t have a lot of creativity.”
She suggests everyone wear something in the same color family or have one matching accent piece. “You’ll look like you belong to the same family but that you have your own style.”
—Gallery: Using multiple photos can bring a family together, even if it’s hard to get them together in one room. “It’s the quick fix if someone is away at college or for grandparents who want to show all their grandkids,” Bohnert says. “You can tell a lot of stories this way.”
—Antler ears, Santa hats and fake moustaches: “The joke has to be an obvious joke,” Chaney says. Clever wording will help here. Think “Awkward Family Photos.”
—Pets: As much as he’d like photo cards to show every member of the family right down to the goldfish, Johnson warns that pets can steal the thunder, so mind the pecking order and how that comes out in the picture.
—Outdoor setting: It’s often the easiest shot, has the best light and it’ll probably have the most easy-going feel, Bohnert says. The family will probably come off as less stuffy and more playful.
Don’t feel limited to a pine-tree background. If your best photo was from your summer vacation, share that with your friends. They want to see you when you feel happy and at your best, Bohnert says.
If you want to make it feel a little bit more “holiday,” trim it red and green or add candy-cane stripes.
—No people: You don’t need people to make a personal photo card. An artistic landscape from that blockbuster trip, a sunrise picture from your deck or the wreath that hangs on your door can say just as much.
—New Year’s: Want to stand out from the crowd? Send a New Year’s card. “That says, ‘I’m always late’ or ‘I’m really optimistic,’” according to Bohnert, “but you’ll remember getting that card.”
Read the article here:
http://news.yahoo.com/holiday-photo-cards-195522899.html
Hey bombshells!
Ok, something exciting for me is coming up this December 8th that I just had to take a moment to share with you all. It’s my first ever Style Network Holiday Special, but I’m not the only one hosting it. The love of mai life, my husband Freddy Harteis is actually hosting alongside me! In this special we bring you cool ideas for your holiday party, gift wrapping, decorating, and of course tips to look fantab the whole way. It’s me like you’ve never seen, so get out your organic spelt crackers cuz there’s bout to be some merry melted cheese in the house!
