Hi, everyone!

I hope you are starting off the holiday season with joy in your heart this year. This is the first one in three years in which my family will get to be together, so I've been "decking my halls."

My apartment is small, so Thor got his gift of a squishy, supportive new dog bed early.

My kids (who I'm 99.9% sure don't read my newsletters) are going to be overjoyed with their gifts. They're each getting a large box filled with household items such as cleaning products, personal hygiene supplies, kitchen tools, and pet supplies. The goal is to give each household 1-2 months' break from having to purchase these things.

The fact that they will be thrilled is another point of happiness for me. I love that my two girls in their early 20s will be as happy if not happier with practical gifts as they would be with the latest designer handbag or electronic gizmo.

Times were tough when they were growing up, but I think it built within them a type of resilience that other young people are having to learn as they go. One of the really positive benefits of that is their appreciation of the practical things in life. I am a proud mama when I see them getting excited over a 6-pack of toothpaste and a jumbo bottle of ibuprofen.

I think a lot more people are focusing on practical gifts this year and although it may feel like a bummer to some, perhaps our society will be better for it.