Cafe Victoria

Real Simple Magazine December question: How do you stay on budget during the holidays?

Ahh…no budget for me it is more about the rituals. I have a ritual where I buy my close friend Jennifer who lives in Boston a California Calendar and she buys me a New England Calendar. We have been keeping this tradition going since 1998. We met when I was doing my Junior year college in Rhode Island. I always buy a coffee cup for Imelda and Mercy in the business office from the Potter’s Guild Club Holiday Pottery Sale. A few years ago, I was buying everyone close to me the KFOG Live from the Archives CD. This year is number 16, so been thinking about that gift again. And what could be more of a ritual than Christmas cards!

This week, I added a new catagory in my blog. It is called “Real Simple” after the magainze. I’ve been a Real Simple reader for a long time. One of the things they always offer is “question of the month”.  I’ve always wanted to start answering those questions on my blog. I think it is a fun way to share some fun thoughts and insight.

September’s question was “What does home mean to you?

For me, home means favorite places. There are so many places I love inside our house. I love the eating table in our kitchen. It’s where I eat breakfast and look out the window each morning. I love sitting on the couch with Matthias and catching up on all our favorite t.v. shows, thanks to our Comcast DVR. And, I love our front porch. It is a great place to visit with guests, enjoy a really good book or sit and relax.