Tom's giftee got her gift! And, now that the dust from all the holiday scampering around has settled, is swouncing over it.

What did she get from Tom? In addition to the aforementioned Trashed, an absolutely gorgeous-looking comic book called Witchling, which she hasn't even dared to open yet but is already deeply in love with.

She also got two bars of Brooklyn-made Raaka chocolates, which she has already sampled and found very good indeed.

Not only that, but she got a Brooklyn DIY Supply make-your-own-cocktails-bitters kit.

THEN, she found (thoughtfully sealed in a Ziploc bag so the natural oils and scents wouldn't make the chocolate go all funny-tasting) a glorious bar of soap from Brooklyn apothecary Meow Meow Tweet (as it happens, she loves getting local things by local people that nobody but people in her secret Santas' neighborhoods can track down, and now she's got an embarrassment of local riches). The soap is scented with essential oils of rosemary and lime and smells crazy good.

And, as if that weren't enough, she received a gorgeous Kate Beaton calendar tea towel, which will take pride of place in her office cubicle alongside the Katniss Everdeen Barbie Emmett got her.

But wait! There's more! As if the above weren't more than enough awesome for any mere mortal, she found that Scola had achieved 100% pure undiluted full-strength Scolatude by tucking in a CARD GAME. Not just any card game, but this card game. Truly, the man is a master of Secret Santaness, and his recipient bows before him.

It was all so, so very worth the wait, and Tom's Santee wishes for him in the coming year that all his goodness come back to him tenfold, which is exactly no less than he deserves.

Yay!

I came in to work this morning to discover a box from DC sitting on my desk. I'm waiting until I get home to open it. It's taunting me in the meantime.

Santee, the second part of your gift has been mailed. I hope you will get it this week or early next.

So I got home, opened the box and said, "Ooooh, shiny." Literally. Everything was wrapped in shiny, shiny red and silver paper that had a subtle brushed pattern that was mesmerizing. I was able to break the spell and tear into the packages though. After the lovely card there was an adorable Edie Harper coloring book and a set of colored pencils. Then a Greek olive oil soap and a beautiful candle followed by a gorgeous, handmade (knitted? crocheted?) headband in shades of dark rose and olive. Is it made of chenille? It's very cozy. Delightful, right? There couldn't possibly be more. Oh, but there is. A LARGE box of (sustainably sourced) Belgian chocolates will be testing my willpower for (what I hope will be) a while.

Thank you, Santa Bonny!

::clappyhands::

aurelia, this year is all about comfort and I hope these little things make your winter a bit more comfy.

Yes, the headband/ear warmer is hand crocheted by me in my very favorite yarn EVER. It is so soft, I just want to cuddle up to it. It's Bernat Blanket and can be machine washed and dried.

I took inspiration from the shiny wrapping on the chocolate box...and figured you can always share the sweets, so no box is too big!

Please enjoy.

This year has not been an easy one. I am glad you guys are here. B.org has been a bright spot for me when I needed it.

I'm so grateful for this board, and even when I'm quiet or skimmy, I am thinking of you. Thank you for being a vastly important part of my life during all the things.

Wishing everyone here a 2015 that kicks 2014's ass.

While I do my end-of-year stuff according to the Jewish calendar, I saw a question on Twitter: what is your best memory of 2014.

It was the vacation. Thank you so much for it. I was and still am so happy that it came true. Thank you, you wonderful bunch of people. So happy that Nilly pointed me in your direction.

2014 was, on the whole, a good year for me. I had a real summer vacation for the first time since college, and got to spend part of it with family and good friends, including an excellent (if all too brief) trip to Athens, which reminded me of just how much I love going places I've never been. So I'm hoping to do more of that in the coming years... but probably not this year, since I'm expecting another baby in July, which tends to put a damper on the big international travel plans. Maybe in 2016!