Hey there, it’s Tulip Green, your shopping consultant! I know that shopping for Christmas is the most favorite thing you have ever wanted to do!

Well, this year you have noticed that I got started on Christmas early. Yep, put up Christmas balls before Thanksgiving, we are talking 70 degree weather. Slowly but surely I have been shopping for my presents. You see we draw names in my family and this year I even still have the names taped to my little “reminder book” so I did not have to call my sister and have her say, “oh, you lost your names again”! Well, the name I had was my niece and we always have a list of things on the internet (thank goodness for computers) that give us some kind of suggestions on what that person wants. You know I really don’t like that. You see where is the surprise? I often wonder why the person just doesn’t go out and purchase what they want; then they have what they want and I don’t have to shop, wrap it and act surprised when they say” it’s just what I wanted

Well, anyway, again thanks to the internet I ordered this little “owl” necklace and a CD of “One Direction”. But she wanted a tee shirt with an “owl” on it. Have you seen a shirt like that lately? Everywhere I went I asked, do you have a shirt with an “owl” on it. That’s when the salesperson would look at me as if I were from another planet.

Never fever, old TG would not let this little task go; one day as I was “running” through Walmart, I interrupted a salesperson that was talking to a friend and asked if they had this particular shirt. She said “yes we do”! Ask me if I almost hugged her neck.

You won’t believe what happen last night. My sister called and asked if I had done my shopping yet! I guess she knows me; I usually wait to the last minute and then can never find what I want. I, of course, said I had and there was a long pause; I thought she had dropped the phone. She replies, well you never have your present purchased this early.

It seems that my other sister had thought she had the niece’s name and she had purchased her something also. I could not believe it, Miss Perfect had flubbed up! My reply was that I already had it wrapped and she would just have to take her’s back. As they say, “that’s when the fight began”!

One thing that has really helped me with my shopping, I just sit here in my little glass room and run through every catalog they have on the internet. You know that old saying “let your fingers do the walking”. Also, I have a box full of catalogs that just show up in my mail box every day. What are we ever going to do with all these books after Christmas? Surely there is something more exiting that we can do with them than just putting them in the recycle bin?

Speaking of “books that come in the mail”, the Hubby was looking through a book with food that you could order! I have never done that. I have always been afraid that it would turn up stale, green or not really taste good at all and how do you send it back? But there was one book that had recipes in it. They were for “years past” like during the 1940’s and 1950’s. I know some of you out there don’t know when that was; but I do. Anyway, it was a chocolate cake; one layer and the ingredients had “one russet potato”. Have you ever tried to buy one potato when Walmart has them packaged in a 5 pound bag? You got it; I now have a bag with one less potato in it. And I have the most beautiful chocolate cake make with a potato in it. There is a first for everything. The recipe read like this…microwave the potato until tender, wrap in foil until ready to use and so on. Now, here is the question, how did they microwave that potato in 1940! The end result was “the Hubby” was absolutely in heaven, eating his chocolate cake with no icing but Foo..Foo on top. I know you know what that is. It’s that spray whipped cream in a can!

Well, since the Hubby was so carried away with his cake, I thought I would do something “just for me”. We should always do that sometimes. You know that “from me to me” present. They are the best kind. That way you always get what you want. I found a recipe for “Aunt Ada’s Rum Cake”. I just happened to have a bottle of Run in my “pie safe” and I thought, hey, that would be good. I made it and it was easy; no microwaving, no stressing or thinking, just put the yellow cake mix in a bowl, put in the eggs and oil and of course a half cup of rum and let it cook. Of course, they had a nice glaze that you pour over the top. You bring to a boil a half cup of rum, stick of butter and water! Now you know all the alcohol was burned off during the process. Wouldn’t want anyone to think I was doing something I wasn’t supposed to do.

I know you all are excited about the upcoming event that is most important, “the birth of Christ” that is the guiding light in our life! Be sure you “stop and enjoy the reason for the season”

Once again, I say, “drop someone a note, call a friend, sit back and recall the memories of a friend who is long passed and hug your Hubby every morning. That is if you are fortunate to have one, if not, just hug a friend’s Hubby and tell them that Tulip Green told you to do so!

MERRY, MERRY EVERYONE AND HAPPY HAPPY!