It’s beginning to feel a

Evidence one Christmas miracle: beloved handmade earrings given to me by friend that have been lost for many months—and for which I diligently searched in every conceivable pocket, purse, and drawer—turned up, lying side by side, in the middle of our bedroom floor.

Evidence sad, sad journey to Macy’s, in which I succumbed like the sad last-minute shopper I am to every sale, bargain, and credit card offer they happened to throw at me. Which were many. Many and great.

Evidence one afternoon spent with children helping them construct gingerbread houses. Also note Krista’s and my house shamelessly besting 7-year-olds’ houses with features such as a coi pond, dog run, and line of Teddy Grahams riding the roof of our house like cowboys.

Evidence consuming in one afternoon: spiked hot cider, hot buttered rum, eggnog ice cream, iced sugar cookies, onion dip, artichoke spinach dip, pumpkin butterscotch cookies, fudge ball, and many many chips. Stomach ache and “Arrested Development” were to follow.

Evidence all of this getting conflicting with regular gym schedule. Honestly, who has time to work out when there’s fudge balls to eat and fondue lunches to attend? And it's not like I'm going wedding dress shopping in a week or anything. No need to look svelte when trying on white dresses in front of a gaggle of relatives and friends. Nope.

Also this commercial? Hi-larity. We were quoting it all weekend, which I guess makes their marketing campaign successful.