'The Christmas ____________'

I've noticed over the past few years a surge in 'Christmas'-related items (featured in sappy songs, sappy coffee-table books, and sappy so-forth) that in fact have a very dubious connection to Christmas, if indeed at all. Apparently if you stick the word 'Christmas' in front of something it instantly becomes very marketable during the holiday season. I think we've only scratched the surface with the endless possibilities, and so beyond the obvious 'Christmas Shoes' I would like to offer a few potential alternatives, with the aid of Google: 

Not making the list (but that's for next year!) are the Christmas Ironing Board, the Christmas Strutless Biplane, and the Christmas Creep.

Christmas Projects

  A few Christmas projects: a kitschy Christmas wreath to grace the door (complete with pink animals, a nativity set, and swirl candies), as well as an old music-box ballerina (from the days of my youth) suspended in a glass ball ornament à la Michael's. I had to saw her one arm off and re-glue it once she was inside- not an easy feat and there was some frustrated muttering involved, but all in all it turned out rather fine. I'm particularly fascinated by artist Thomas Doyle's miniature people-in-glass sculptures and can only guess at the amount of patience and precision his work requires.

it came upon a midnight clear

November fields and sunsets I've forgotten I miss 

until I go home and see them again.

Went for a coffee at Mitzi's with the roomies recently;

cute place.

saving gigi, from the vault