The Reasons...

Hi again!
Well, as this season gets rolling, I have been thinking about some of the reasons I love Christmas so much. Obviously, being Care'n Presents, I love the presents! Not the getting but the giving! There's nothing like the fun of making cookies, candy or other little goodies to give to friends and family. On top of that I LOVE wrapping gifts! I think that is at least half of the fun!  
And yes! I love Living Christmas trees! I love the smell, lighting the lights, and I especially love having a live tree inside my house around the holidays. It's something you can care for, talk to, sing to! Okay, well, the talking and singing thing is probably just me, but still...you can if you want to, and I highly recommend it. It's really good stress relief. I guarantee you, the tree will not give you any lip, or argue, or whine. He or she will just listen to your troubles, breathe in your stress, and in return, give you wonderful fresh oxygen. The Living Christmas elves try and relieve a little of your stress too, by delivering your tree right to your house, and picking it up afterwards. You don't have to run around to the lots, or strap one to the roof of your car. Even better, you don't have to fight with one of those water tray thingies, while you make a brave, yet futile attempt to get the tree to stand up straight. Right there, knowing I can avoid that, that takes me right to my happy place. Something pleasant to think about this holiday season, don't you think?

Well it's getting busy at The Workshop, so I better scurry. 

Merry Merry!

Care'n Presents

Pine and Dandy

Wow! It's already October!
Care'n Presents, where have you been?? you may be asking yourself. Well, I'm officially defrosted from my off season time at the North Pole. For that matter, the California weather recently has gone over and above the simple act of defrosting, and has moved into roasting. And let me tell you, "Roasted Elf" is not a pretty dish.  

So enough about me, how are you all? Looking forward to another fun "Living Christmas"?

I can tell you, that here at The Workshop, things are already abuzz. Orders are pouring in, and we are getting the trees "spruced" up. They'll be looking "pine" and dandy in no time.

I've been at the lot, sorting out all the Farmers' Market and event stuff; washing the banners and tree skirts, so everything is sparkling clean and ready to go.  I just can't wait to get out there. I don't get out much in the off season, so it's really exciting for me.  Hopefully, I'll get to meet some of you!

Well, just thought I'd say hello. More to come soon!

Merry Merry!


Care'n Presents                    

Put Your Merry Where Your Mouth is

Hi Friends!
For those of you who follow this blog (all...7 of you) you may have noticed that I've been M.I.A. This is due in part to the fact that I've been working on the tree adoptions this season for The Living Christmas Company. It's a crazy job, but somebody has to do it, and who's crazier than me? Don't answer that. (I can see you out there...shaking your heads..."Nope, can't think of anyone...")
I do feel a little bad about cutting my "Christmas List" short, but what was I thinking? Maybe next year I'll write it up in...June. That could work. 
The other thing I did, which you may have seen on my Facebook page was to have a "Giving Get Together". Remember I said I wanted to? This is a great season to follow through on things. I know it's hard. Believe me, I've been typing like a nervous Marconi operator in a sinking ship. The emails flood in faster than I can answer them. Of course that may be because there's about 300 adoption customers and one of me, but I digress.  Honestly, I'm having a great time. I love seeing the names people have picked out for their trees, and sometimes they even tell me the story behind it.

The point is, that once in a while. you have to take a break. I chose to throw a party of sorts, and at the same time, I invited everyone to help make Christmas cards for our military. You might think, wow, I'm invited to go to a party and you want me to...what? I'll tell you what, whatever anyone thought coming to my house that day, they left with smiles on their faces. They started by telling me that they didn't have a creative bone in their body and by the end of the night they were picking up what they'd just made saying "Hey, this one's not bad!"  I mean seriously, how often do we (adults) get to do arts and crafts?
Now the kids...they don't worry about perfection. One little girl who came made about 10 cards I think. She went to town! The great thing is that when you get a homemade card, especially from a child, but even from an adult, you aren't thinking "Wow, I guess it's okay, but they colored outside the lines right there, and oh, there's a smudge of glue stick by the corner." No, you look at it and know that someone took the time to make something JUST FOR YOU. It was made from the heart...and was offered in hopes that it would touch yours.
So Friends, put your Merry were your mouth is. Make it your goal, even if it's just for one day, to make someone, somewhere, smile. Make a card for a soldier, call up a friend, donate to a food drive, or just be patient with the crazy elf on the phone...she's doing the best she can. 

Merry, Merry


Care'n Presents

It's Officially the Holiday Season!

I attended an event with my fellow elf Gregnog yesterday at Lucky Brand Headquarters. It was pretty cool and the people there were so nice! It did leave me a little...tuckered out, so I apologize for once again being behind on my posts. Since I need to catch up on my sugar plum visions, I'll be brief today.


Day 55 - Sorry, but I'm just too excited to get to the next few things on the list...

Day 54 -  Hope you had a Happy Halloween! I like to think of Halloween as the Gateway holiday: once we get past it, it's time to start thinking MORE about Christmas!! (I know there are some hardcore Halloween people out there, but hey, I'm an elf, what do you expect?)

Day 53 - November is finally here!! Let's just celebrate, shall we? Break out the eggnog, it's gonna' be a great weekend!!

Day 52 - All right. You may have noticed that my entries are a lot shorter than usual, but let's face it, it's getting closer to Christmas and The Workshop has become a beehive of activity! There is so much to do! Scotty Claus is a blur. I have to tackle him to slow him down long enough to ask a question.  Hey, that can be my list item today: think of a great question for Scotty Claus. I, of course, have a list of inquiries, but if you think of anything, feel free to contact me on Facebook and I'll see if I can get an answer for you.  

Meanwhile...         

Merry Merry!

Care'n Presents

The Countdown Continues...

Hello Friends! Well, I'm a little behind again. As we get closer to Christmas I will be getting busier and busier, but I will try my best to keep up with my posts! (For the seven or eight of you who actually read them, lol)  So, without further ado...

Day 59 - Try something new. Anything. Want to taste a new flavor? Try a color you always thought would be too daring! Pick a new route for your evening walk. What does this have to do with Christmas? I'm so glad you asked!  Most people have traditions at Christmas, which is good, but sometimes we feel like we can't alter those traditions without the sky falling or something. We need to push ourselves to expand our world and look at things differently once in a while. Take...oh...Christmas trees for example. (You knew that was coming.) Most people are content with having the same artificial tree they had last year, or strapping that cut tree to the top of the car and having it in their house for a while.  I'm certainly not knocking tradition, but how about we think about something new?  Try a living tree!  At least think about it. Check out livingchristmas.com and just think about it. A little note: our new and improved site should be up and running on Nov. 1! So you can just mull it over in your head until then. I love mulling, don't you?

...or you can do a tree dance like Mr. Tree!

Day 58 - Make up your own elf dance! Have fun! Blow off a little steam, or if you don't have any steam, just get some exercise in a fun way. Get some photos of yourself and go to  http://www.elfyourself.com/. Be silly, because this is the time of year to do it. 


Day 57 - If you haven't done it yet, it's not too late to do a little purging. Go through a few drawers, the closet, the garage, wherever things have collected. Take stuff you don't need to your favorite charity like AmVets, or Goodwill. You will be helping yourself have a less cluttered existance, and help others at the same time. Win-Win.

Day 56 - Make sure you have some Halloween candy for Thursday night. If you haven't done it yet, you are lagging! I just got mine yesterday, who am I to talk? I am a little more in tune to Christmas though, so that's my excuse, and I'm stickin' to it. 

I Told You I Was Still Looking

Actually, this one was a matter of remembering. I found this organization a while back, so I had to look it up again, but it's really a great one.  Previously, I was telling you to find a good cause that you can donate some time to this Christmas. Well, this is one that I love.
It's called Soldier's Angels, and their mission states: "May No Soldier Go Unloved". There are different levels of giving. They have suggestions for items you can send that will go into stockings for the troops. They also have a program where you can adopt a soldier and send them packages and letters on a monthly basis. It's like with the Operation Christmas Cards program, they encourage the personal touch.

https://soldiersangels.org/

 

Day 60 (yes, that means only 2 more months!!)   Check out this website. Maybe it's something you'd want to do, maybe not, but see how you can spread a little love around either way.

 

Merry, Merry!

 

Care'n Presents

Sometimes We Need a Little Christmas...

As I sit here at my computer, I can't think of a thing to write. This is odd, because most of the time, I can't stop my fingers from typing.  Today, the weather is overcast, and it seems more like winter is on the way. This is the kind of weather that I just want to stay inside, bake cookies and drink hot cocoa. It's Christmas movie weather.

Day 61 - I know we're still a little early, but sometimes I need a little Christmas at other times during the year. This is one of those times. So sneak off by yourself if you have to, and watch one of your favorite Christmas movies. I say favorite because you may want to watch it again closer to Christmas. Or get one of those movies that just has Christmas in the background. Get a hot cup of cocoa, coffee or tea, and let yourself feel good for a while. Imagine how nice it will be when it is closer to Christmas and you can sit in the living room, watching your movies, with your Living Christmas Tree in the corner all lit up and decorated. Nice thought, huh?

Merry Merry,

Care'n Presents