So it is the first weekend in December one on the most enjoyable and hectic months of the year. As much as I try to simplify my holiday routines, I still get caught up in them all. Baking, gift giving, decorating. The trouble is I love Christmas. As tiring as it can be, I actually like to warm up the kitchen with all sorts of goodies. And last week, I got so bummed out when my husband and my mom told me that they did not want anything for Christmas. What is that all about?! I enjoy shopping for other people; it is challenging and guiltless for me! I had every intention of keeping my decorations simple by only putting up only a tree but I just couldn’t do it. I love my twinkling lights and my vintage Shiny Brite ornaments. They now up all over my house. So I thought I would start this month by making a list of some my current favorite things: 1) I just discovered a book that has been out awhile and I really like the simple instructions and patterns. I recommend it for anyone who wants to learn to knit or who is knitting “scarves only”. It is The Yarn Girl’s Guide to Simple Knits. 2) I also picked up Illustrating Children’s Books by Martin Salisbury and I am really enjoying it! I have read plenty of books on the subject of children’s illustration and this one is really good. I was on the fence about enrolling in a figure drawing course in Jan. at RSDI to brush on my life drawings skills when I ran across this passage, Edward Ardizzone once observed that “born Illustrators” do no like to draw from life (he felt they were more interested in drawing the living). He went on the say that it was “dangerous to neglect the discipline of drawing from life”. Yikes! I t spoke to me. I guess I will be drawing naked people this winter, ha! 3) I got the cutest tank top from sophiesphilosophies.com, Joanna and I went to lunch and did some creative exchange about her talents (which are many) and she sent me this little tank that says “Wear pumps. Take taxis.” (Great gift idea). Thanks Joanna!