Tis' the season of Christmas parties

Tonight, I attended a Ladies Only Christmas party at a local Italian restaurant - Ciccio's Cafe.  I missed last year's party due to personal reasons but this year, my friends made sure I attended.  The service at the restaurant was mediocre.  It took a long time for our food to arrive.  I ordered a lasagna and I ate the entire portion because I was starving by the time it arrived.  It was good but when you're hungry, cardboard tastes good.

The best part of the night was the "chinese gift exchange".  I don't know why they call it a chinese gift exchange.  There were 15 of us participating in this gift exchange.  I got to pick last!  Yes!!  :)  So in the end, I took my friend Roslyn's hot chocolate bundle.  There were two packages in this gift - one was a big mug with cookies and tea, the other was a pitcher/bodum in one with chocolate and hot chocolate packs.  I really liked the mug since I don't have very many at home.

I love these kinds of gift exchanges - there were so many different gifts that it was hard to pick what to take.  At first, I was eyeing this bath product set but I wasn't too crazy about the scent - olive oil.  So I went for my next favorite thing - hot chocolate and mug.

In the end, Roslyn got the gift I brought - a bottle of chardonnay.  I'm the wine girl of the group.  If there's a party/gathering, I bring the wine.  I hope she likes it .. it was a Sterling chardonnay.  :)

On Thursday, I will be attending my Christopher Leadership dinner.  It's graduation night.  I have to make a two minute speech about something happy and upbeat.  My best speech was on french fries - yes, I actually did a speech on my favorite food group.  :)

I really have to start thinking about Christmas presents too.  This year, we said gifts for the kids only.  But we'll see.  I still might get my sisters something small.  They have helped me through this difficult year.

Oh .. I will be in town from December 24th to January 3rd.  I'm hoping to see everyone again.  (Ka, are you still doing the annual tradition of Pizza Hut buffet on December 24th?  :))  I may also want to do some power shopping while I'm in town.