Shopped Out

Lord & Taylor in Ridgewood was open til 11 tonight, and every cashier had sale coupons at the ready to scan for an additional percentage off most things. I pretty much completed my shopping for H., Figgy and Dad in one fell swoop. Happy with what I found. Great sales, too.

Tired now. Spending money, buying gifts, is stressful. There you are in the store, seeing so many other things you'd love to buy for others and for yourself. Ugg boots, Kate Spade party shoes, Coach bags, Clinique lip gloss, Chanel perfume. And your crumpled Christmas list is in your purse, a weary reminder of the budget you set as you sat on your living room couch.

After leaving the store at 11, had to pop into the A&P in Montclair for some last-minute baking ingredients--sugar, butter, eggs, dark chocolate. Too tired to do biscotti and turtle bars now, but hope to tomorrow. Want to pack some up for Punch and her Mommy, with our gifts, and for our family up in Maine, too.

We're leaving for our 450-mile drive to Belfast tomorrow evening, after H. works at an afternoon party in NYC. We'll probably stop halfway through, in Massachusetts, to sleep at a hotel, but not sure.

Am going to try and soldier on and wrap some gifts now before collapsing in a heap.

Angels we have heard on high.

Good night.