I am not Oprah. Oh, you already knew that, did you? But if I were, I’d make a list of all of my favorite things and all of America would “ooh” and “ahh” over them and decide they must have them.

But if I did, my list would not include any kind of gift with a hand painted picture of my dog on it (or cat in my case)– seriously, what is up with that? Truly, my friend Beck (Frog & Toad Are Still Friends) has done a great job narrating her way through Oprah’s list — and all of her friends’ lists, too. Beck humorously picks up on the “pointless overindulgence” of it all. Really, go read her post now.

No, wait, read mine first! And then hers. Better.

As I was saying, If I were Oprah I’d make a list. Well, I’m not Oprah but I’m going to make a list anyway. Because if wishes were horses and if Santa still read my wishlist, I might actually give or receive some of these things. Alas, I AM Santa, and I have three children and several family members to bless so at best I will most likely get myself only one of these (and that being whichever is cheapest.)

Without further ado, I present:

Amber’s Favorite Things

1.) Bath & Body Works. Because it’s better than the multi-mart stuff and because I can’t afford the really high dollar stuff. And besides which, you can find a scent to please just about anybody. My personal favorites are Moonlight path, Sensual Amber & Twilight Woods. I’m pretty good on bath soap now, so lotions, perfumes and candles would be nice. Just, if you were wondering. Also, P.S. I don’t like anything with cucumber or sandalwood in it. Just, FYI. ; )

2.) JBuds Hi-Fi Noise-Reducing Ear Buds (Pink). I’ve never actually had a pair, but I’ve always wanted some! Sometimes in the middle of clamor of life what I really need to bring my blood pressure down is a little bit of music to block out the chaos for a little while. What better than a pair of headphones that can really BLOCK OUT the chaos?? Don’t you want some, too?

3.) Pyrus Electronics 4gb Mp3 / mp4 / mp5 Player. What? I’d need something to go with my headphones! Even if the headphone jack on my laptop still worked (which is doesn’t) I wouldn’t want to be attached to the computer while listening to music now would I? Maybe I’d even go exercise or walking while listening to my tunes. Maybe.

4.) Small Kitchen Appliances. Who doesn’t love a good kitchen appliance? My mom already knows this. My early Christmas present arrived this week – a Cuisinart Convection Toaster Oven and YES, I already love it! Thanks, Mom! Add one to your Christmas list, too. Or give one to a friend..Watch for a good sale and grab one up! Not only is it cool, but it’s practical. It’s the best of both worlds.

5.) A Kindle. Yeah, I went there. I used to think I didn’t want one, but now I’m not so sure. As I find more and more online free digital products for homeschool (the ones that can just be read and don’t need to printed out and filled in or cut or glued), the more I think, “Hey! This might actually be pretty cool! And besides, if I had one, I would look pretty cool, too!” So now, okay, sure, why not? At least they’ve come down in price since they first came out, right? So now, sure… a Kindle can go on the list, too.

6.) Trendy Laptop Sleeve. Great for your laptop carrying friend. *ahem* Practical AND fun. Not to mention that you can find them on Etsy and support someone’s home made business. Now how’s that for a bargain. Oh, Etsy! Because every laptop deserves to look stylish and trendy while being transported. It’s true!

7.) You know what else you can find on Etsy? Hand-printed flour sack towels for the coffee lover. How cute are these? Again – Oh, Etsy! I don’t know what it is, but I just keep wanting to find some cute flour sack towels. Or buy some flour sack towels and do something cute to them. But, you know, it’s easier if somebody else has already done it.

8.) Yankee Candles. I looooove candles. And tart burners and all sorts of smelly things. Yankee Candles really are awesome. The scent is true and strong but not cheap or tacky enough to overwhelm you and make you nauseous. They last a really long time, especially when you use them with a candle warmer. My favorite scent, especially for this time of year but I’ll burn the thing year round if I like: Christmas Eve. I’d have never thought you could bottle a Christmas Eve smell but they did. They describe it as “a warm hearth, sugared plums and candied fruits.” It’s perfect.

9.) Scentsy Candles. Though, they’re not really “candles.” I have a friend that sells these and the amazing thing about these (aside from the fact that they don’t use a flame and the wax doesn’t get hot enough to burn) is that they are amazingly strong and can easily perfume your entire house. And yes, I really do use both candles & Scentsy — just not at the same time. I have the Boleyn Warmer which is just beautiful and the scent I originally purchased has been discontinued so I guess I’ll have to try something new. Maybe something fruity or nutty (No wise cracks!) but I have to admit the “Cozy Fireside” sounds intriguing.

10.) And last but not least — A WEEKEND AWAY. What I’ve asked hubby for that I really want.. a weekend without kids, in a hotel, just myself. Okay, well, maybe hubby could come, too. If he’s QUIET. Doesn’t that sound amazing? I can’t think of a single person who wouldn’t love a gift like that, even if they don’t have kids or aren’t married, who wouldn’t want to get away for a weekend? Not that I don’t love my kids, but it’s been a year since I’ve had some alone time, I’m just sayin’. If Santa wanted to be really, really awesome he’d give me two nights away to rest, read, journal, pray and regroup. Hello, Santa? Hello? …

~~~~

And so there you have it, “Amber’s Favorite Things.” Practical gifts for practically anybody, or, at the very least, for me.

Like I said, though, lately ‘Santa’ has gotten a bit cheap so I’m expecting something small and inexpensive. Santa has been known to give razors and kitchen spatulas in the past. So. We’ll see.

What would be on YOUR list of favorite things?

Okay, now you can go read Beck’s post. Go on! It’s funny. I promise.

P.S. Those Amazon links? Yeah, they have affiliate links. It’s pennies, but every single penny I make through Amazon goes directly towards buying books and things for homeschooling.

Oh it’s been YEARS since I’ve done something like this (high school in fact.) I always had fun with these.. yeah, I was a bit of a nerd, what can I say?

Inspired by Currclick’s giveaway and blog hop (check out the Currclick blog to see how you can enter to win a $20 GC to their site – ends at 10pm EST tonight, Friday the 29th!!) I’ve decided to start my OWN story and join up. Why not?

So I’ll start a story, and you’ll add to it in a comment, and the next person will add, and so on, until someone ends it or people stop adding and I add an ending. We’ll see which happens first. =)

Just please, please, join in and help me out, won’t you?? You don’t want a sad little story starter sitting here on my blog, do you? DO YOU?? Make it fun!! (Just keep it family friendly, please!!)

Ready? Here goes:

Our story takes place a long time ago, or maybe yesterday, in a far away place (that’s really not so hard to get to.) Most people never go there because they’ve never heard of it. Few people have heard of it but never gone. Most who go, never return (or so they say.) Our story takes place when our hero, Jo, leaves the country called Un, in search of the long lost…

Your turn! If you’re reading this on Facebook, make sure that you leave your comments in the actual post. Don’t forget to pop over to Currclick to add to THEIR story and enter the giveaway. Happy late, “Tell a Story Day!”

**UPDATED – I won the gift certificate – Yay!

Some things I found interesting over the past week – I hope you do, too!

From Five J’s, a good read and interesting discussion about whether or not we should force our children to share?

GO read this one – now! Especially if you followed Kristi’s series called Redeemed about Women at Risk International. Women across the blogosphere are joining together to provide wells for a handful of specific widows in a specific village and it’s amazing to see God using the internet for his glory!

OH MY! Robin wrote an amazing post over at Incourage! FOR MARRIED WOMEN ONLY… ;0)

More links:

U.S. Approval of Killing of Cleric Causes Unease

I know that the Miss USA has already come and gone, but some of the quotes and such in this article were pretty shocking. Even if you don’t normally tune in to watch (I don’t) you may want to know. Also, if you did – was it as bad as they said it was going to be? .. Miss USA Pageant: Not For Families Anymore

I enjoyed reading through this list of Large Family Living suggestions over at Raising Arrows!

Self-explanatory by the title,..Nothing in life is free. Except, it seems, a mommyblogger.

There is, it seems, a mass exodus being organized for Facebook. You in or out?

A different take on recent Facebook issues, while I’m not entirely on the same side, he has some valid arguments about even “private” online pages being online and always at risk of becoming public.

Care to add anything interesting?

Time for another one of those fun blog posts where we examine the kind of traffic that Google is sending my way (thank you, dear Google), double check it to make sure there are no weirdo google searches sending people over here and take a giggle at some of the random stuff people actually google… READY?

Maybe You Were Looking For THIS?

bills need to be paid

Yes, yes they do. Unfortunately I haven’t figured out a way to pay with “Thank you’s and pretty smiles” but I DID just revamp my office desk and bill system to make sure the MONEY makes it to the bill collectors on time. (They’re not too crazy about “Oops!”s either…)

pretzel affiliate program

Really? Do they have such a thing? Does it work? Tell me! I can add it to my list of approved affiliates.. Ohhhh, or maybe you were looking for my homemade soft pretzels? They’re so much tastier anyway.

what is title of wife that doesn’t work

Seriously? I’m pretty sure she’s still your WIFE. Working or not, better or worse, sickness and health – ring a bell? (James, no wise cracks about that search resulting in a hit to my blog. JUST SAYIN.)

100 ways to show christ’s love

OOH! I don’t have a post like that but good idea! Thanks random googler!

how to take permanent marker off a white (board I assume??)

Aha! I knew that permanent marker/dry erase board tip was going to come in handy for someone else eventually!!

is jello a liquid or a solid?

I am not the only one who wonders these things.

does god want me to be a homemaker

YES! Again, YES! If you ask me we are ALL home makers. (Just some of us work in an office, too.)

how to survive texas summer

Ah yes. THAT TIME is almost upon us, yet AGAIN…

how long will homemade sweet tea last?

Not long enough to spoil if your house is anything like ours. We can drink an entire gallon in a day. Good thing it’s cheap and easy to make.

crafts for pre-k with no gluing

Believe me. I feel your need. Unfortunately all three of my preschoolers love, love, LOVED gluing.

does god want you to fight to save a marriage?

HECK YA! And he wants you to pray, too. And draw close to Him. And not give up on it. And do I need to write a post about this?

how to enjoy with housewife

How to enjoy WHAT with housewife? WAIT. I don’t need to know. If she’s YOUR housewife, however, enjoy away!

modern+housewife+humour

I do try to have some. Some days it’s what keeps me sane. That and prayer. And coffee. And more prayer. (And more coffee.)

meaningful playtime + god + toddler

Awww, sweeet! This might be my favorite.

my house is a pig sty since i have no time to clean it

I have the same problem! Though, perhaps if I stopped looking at my google search hits I could go get the kitchen cleaned up. Hint to self.

my foot connect to my whole body

Doesn’t everybody’s? That’s a good thing right?

tips for being a great housewife

I should write a post about this, too….

what does a housewife want?

Oh don’t get me started! That list is loooong. How about #1 – honor and cherishing from her husband in her role as wife and mother. What would YOU add??

Some good things around the internet right now…

Kristen, We Are That Family, has a BIG ANNOUNCEMENT.

Robin, Pensieve, has an amazing post up at (In)Courage right now, about the joys and pains of motherhood, about training your children up for God’s glory, about sending your children OUT for God’s glory and trusting Him with your child and your heart. (What else can I type here to convince you to go read it?)

Kristi Stephens is doing a blog series on the book of Revelation — something I’ve been looking forward to since she first told us it was coming!

That’s all for now,.. more later. =)

News! Come, Shoot the Breeze With Me is going on a holiday hiatus. I have a few things to go ahead and share with you today, but I’m going to take a rest from this weekly theme for the rest of the year. The Breeze will return after the new year… maybe. We’ll see.

In the meantime, a few holiday links for you:

1. Christmas Cookie Tutorial from Bake @ 350 at We Are That Family
2. No Sew Fleece Pillow
3. Fold & Snip Stars
4. Potted Paper Christmas Tree Decorations
5. 3-D Paper Boxes and Stars
6. Kristi’s Friday Favorites @ Run the Earth, Watch the Sky
7. Silhouette Garland
8. “On Grinches & Games” – a new family Christmas game @ Christmas Change
9. CurrClick’s Christmas Sale is still going on. Ten days left to download free & cheap curriculum supplements.

Also, every Monday in December I’m blogging about Advent on the holiday page. You can find the first post here: Advent ~Expectation.

Three weeks until Christmas – are you getting ready? Have a great weekend!