I just love these kinds of things...

@ Yahoo! Video

From me to you...

Going back in memory, Christmas was such a magical season for me as a child because of the promise of Santa's magical journey from the North Pole... new toys... family members laughing all around... going to church... being in a Christmas pageant... there was such a flurry of colorful and special activity... such a crescendo. With a child's limitless energy, I let this joy rain all over me, soak into my skin and fuel my light for the year to come.

However, early into this year's holiday season, I felt a little down and out. I wasn't feeling so much into the spirit. I was desiring to feel the magical childhood exhilaration... instead I was feeling the blah blah blah blues. As a Christian, I personally celebrate the birth of Christ not just on December the 25, but every day of every year. I celebrate by sharing kindness, loving strangers, reaching out to people who need me, whether I know them or not. In my opinion, THIS is the true celebration of the birth of Jesus, and it can't - MUSTN'T be confined to just one day a year. That's just the life I live... but it doesn't do much to brighten the holidays!

So this year, I made the magic. I looked to the light in my children's eyes as they experience the same things I did as a child. And as I opened my heart to let in some of their joy and light, magically my holiday lights turned on as well.

Please enjoy this little video of what has made my holidays... and all of 2009... special.

Merry Christmas! Happy New Year! Love and peace to you in 2010!

Love, Swestie

I Stand Corrected

Wow! The Les Mills team saw my lil' ole post and corrected me on #1... it's a PONGA tree, a fern type tree that is native to New Zealand, the REAL place that Les Mills is located... I originally said Australia...

Thanks for noticing Caroline! Kia ora!

The 12 Days of Fitness from Les Mills

Here's a holiday wish from the Les Mills team in New Zealand! And don't forget it's summer there...

To the best of my knowledge, it is:

1st day: a Pump bar in a potted (?) tree.

2nd day: 2 tricep dips

3rd day: 3 sweaty men

4th day: 4 downward dogs

5th day: 5 drunk PDs (program directors)

6th day: 6 sweaty singlets

7th day: 7 gloves a boxing

8th day: 8 programs milking it

9th day: balls a dangling

10th day: 10 supermans

11th day: 11 tunes (?) a strumming

12th day: 12 wheels a spinning

Because I love you, I got you a holiday fruit cake!

Pass it on! Courtesy of The Martin Agency...

There's always room for more!

Franc-o-phile...

I don't know if it is because of the time I spent in Europe (mostly in Germany), or if I've simply fallen prey to America's modish marketing of all delicate things al a Francais, but I just love most things that smack of being even the tiniest bit Frenchie.

Doesn't almost every American woman long to have that je ne sais quoi, even if we're not quite sure what it even is?

Well, I saw this ad on television on Thanksgiving day. I first heard the song and immediately loved it and looked up the singer to find out it is no other than the original French icon of sexiness, panache and altruism all rolled into one - Brigitte Bardot. Va va voom!

On first viewing of this TV spot advertising a new French perfume, Miss Dior Cherie, I though it energetic and soft and beautiful and wonderful. It seemed to sum up all things "French" and mash them up into one candid, magical breath-taking minute of "How to Be Beautiful and French."

However, when I watched this commercial, directed by Sofia Coppola, again, I realized that I thought those things because I was led to them directly... literally. This commercial is like a condescending primer of "all things French," including:

• fancy French pastries - including tasty macaron
• beautiful, sun-spotted views of traditional Paris... the River Seine, the lovely and nearly ancient bridges, opulent fountains
• quaint views of things that make the girl seem carefree and so different than the modern American woman: bicycle riding in a dress... peony sniffing... dog walking... convertible riding on a fuzzy blue day...
• Vogue magazine and beautiful clothing
• the Brigitte Bardot-esque hairstyle
• of course some obligatory shots of the Dior house in Paris

and, the piece de resistance

• the red balloon

Obvious and leading as it it, I love this silly advertisement anyway, and I wish I could be the girl in it! I'm a sucker for things marketed just to me and will likely go out and sniff the perfume today!

Spotted at the Goodwill Truck...

Now THAT'S a slipcover!

Let the shopping begin!

Click on this ad to see the full version... I still can't figure out how to embed my You Tube vids properly! And by they way... any Gap gifts you want to send to me are most welcome and appreciated! (=

Will Suffer for Fashion