What I want for Christmas
 

What (other than world peace, of course) would you like for Christmas( or the winter holiday of your choice)?

If you really must know....;)

-I want a Phi Sigma Pi Afghan from the national website.
-I want the SAI Founder's ring from the national website.
-I want the SAI History book from the national website.
-I want the pretty, framable symphony from the national website.
-I want the SAI and Phi Sig lavaliers for my charm bracelet.
-I want about 10 books for my classroom.
-I want a christmas ornament that says "Bronco & Thunder's First Christmas"


Uhhh, I think that's it. Gosh, you'd think I was just initiated yesterday. :rolleyes:

AlwaysSAI...thank you for making me feel better about what I want for Christmas....I thought I was the only person who wanted a plethora of items from my organization's website!!! I keep justifying wanting a few cute letter shirts (to include short-sleeve, long-sleeve and a hoodie) by reminding my boyfriend I am the Secretary of our Alumnae Chapter and it's good PR to wear these items to Philanthropy events...Does that make me lame? That is what I want-aside from "The Diamond Ring" I've been waiting on....but, hey-can't get my hopes up too much, now can I?:rolleyes:

I want a new watch, lenox pieces that go with my wedding pattern, waterford crystal, a new cell phone, a new purse, new shoes, and a gift certificate to my favorite spa.

What is your pattern, Thetaprincess? One thing I love about Lenox is that you can get pieces from different patterns to coordinate with your pattern. I inherited a pattern from the 20s, and now get plain Lenox cream with gold trim serving pieces because they go with my formal china and my Lenox Holiday!

I want a new puppy (like a Blue Tick Heeler or a Golden Retriever)
A few new purses with shoes to match
Something from Tiffany's
A cozy throw from Restoration Hardware

must think more... hmmm...

Those are some big dogs for a little elf!

Okay, after reading "A Southern Belle Primer" I always wondered if it was true about the china and silverware patterns...This kind of makes me wonder if it is true...I'm from the North, so can either one of you ladies elaborate for me how important silverware and china patterns are to Southern women? In the book it even comments something along the lines that a "very" Southern mother has gone as far as determining whether or not her son's new wife will last based upon her silverware pattern...I'm sure it's not that bad-but, is it really a big deal to have nice silverware and china in the South? I'm curious and find this to be very interesting...

- Theta Phi Alpha merchandise. Especially one of the wall clocks.
- Gift certificates to Ann Taylor/Loft and Banana Republic/GAP.
- Cold hard cash.
- Tickets to one of the major Florida amusement parks would not hurt.

Depends on the person you are talking to... I don't know one single person who cares about flatware and china patterns like THAT. However, there seems to be a lot of people on here who seem obsessed with that kind of stuff. I inherited a china collection from my great-great-great aunt. But, I couldn't tell you what pattern it is. I haven't even used it in the five years I have had it. The women in my family only use their china once a year. I have better things to buy than china pieces...

There are some on here who genuinely care about the topic. Others just join in to look uppity.

I went with the Tribeca pattern. It's simple yet elegant I think.
http://www.lenox.com/search/index.cfm?fuseaction=search

I also am a fan of Lenox crystal and their holiday pieces. I add a piece or two every year to my easter, halloween, and christmas collections. They usually have cute pieces for under $30.

China and Silver
 

Do remember that "A Southern Belle Primer" is somewhat tongue-in-cheek. But I think it fair to say that southerners do care more about somethings - like china and silver - than others. I worked as a bridal registrar, so I probably care more than most people. I can still identify crystal and china patterns at a glance!
Both of my girls have their own china patterns - my eldest has Johnson Brothers' Old Britain Castles - blue for her everyday and Wedgwood Chester (that was her grandmother's) for her formal, while the youngest has Wedgwood Medici (originally mine) for her formal. My eldest also has Grande Baroque by Wallace silver. One reason is because I wanted to give them gifts that they would own forever - not just the latest have to have it toy that will be forgotten in a year. Sure, a ten year old isn't thrilled at getting a place setting of silver, but once they get a little older they do appreciate it. (At least mine do.) Also, I don't think you should have to wait until you are married to have nice things.
I inherited my Lenox pattern and sterling from my now deceased mother in law. I now buy some Lenox Holiday every Christmas, and someday my eldest daughter will inherit it. I have Waterford crystal, but if I had to do it over again I'd get something a little less heavy.
I try to use my "good" stuff as often as I can. I don't want it to just gather dust - I want it to be a part of my children's memories of good food and good times with family. It's nice to have something tangible to pass down - and I enjoy having a table that looks nice.
Thetaprincess, the Tribeca is very nice!

I'm not sure about all of that stuff (i'm from Kentucky which is southern but not "old south" southern). It was a big deal to my mother and the ladies of the neighborhood I grew up in as well as silver tea service sets. My husband's father was manager of the Dillard's home store here for 30 years so obviously nice dinnerware is a big deal in his family because they had/have all of that stuff. When my husband and I have guests over for dinner, presentation is just as important to us as the food itself, so we like to have nice china with a complete set of silverware that matches in addition to our formal wine glasses and crystal drinkware.

As far as having gold silverware or silver silverware, my husband has a set of real silver silverware from his last marriage (for whatever reason the ex didnt want any of the crystal, china, or silverware) but we rarely if ever use that. I'm planning on giving that china and that silverware to my step daughter when she moves out and has a place of her own down the road. I dont feel like that set of china or that set of silverware belongs to me.

I want a nintendo wii, new cookware (le creuset is what I want but I doubt I get it... :rolleyes: ) , new towels and stuff for my new house. I'm getting new furniture (living room and dining room) I'd also like to have a new bedroom set, but I'm not buying that until the house is almost finished (in the spring).

I want my husband to stay safe...and while I wish he would be home for Christmas, I'll settle for February.

Nothing else really compares to that...

:)

I have the china (Noritake Silverdale), sterling (Reed * Barton French Renaissance) and crystal (Marquis Waterford Claria) - all very simple except the sterling (which is combined from my great-grandmother, my grandmother and my mother, so I have place settings in sterling for 36).

All I want for Christmas is my children home safe and sound, my family gathered around me. If I have that, I am complete.

LPIDelta - hope you get your wish!

Do you all have Papyrus paper and card stores?? Yesterday I bought a beautiful card there with a crescent moon made of pearls! It reads "I'm over the moon for you"

ooooo. . . sounds great!

ThetaPrincess, I love the Tribeca pattern! I'm sure it goes with everything and looks lovely.

I can't speak for everybody, als463, but with each piece of china or sterling I've inherited, there's been a story about how it spent "the war" in the well, or was purchased in celebration of a first child, or was given to an ancestor as a special momento. Most of my serving sterling doesn't match, but I rather use a 160-year-old ladle full of history than a new one that matches! And no one could ever talk me out of having the dent in my teapot "corrected". That would just be wrong, IMHO. So obviously, I wanted a pattern that complimented these pieces, not one that clashed. I also believe in Marilyn Vos Savant's comment that, when one hits 40, one uses the good china & sterling everyday - and the sterling looks SO much better when you do! But back to the topic at hand:

LPIDelta, I hope that there's a mixup in the traveling orders, and your husband gets home safely & soundly, and before Christmas. catiebug, I see no reason why your wish shouldn't be granted, either.

-a gift certificate for landscaping
-several books
-a studio portrait of my mother & I (we've never had one taken!)
-a spa weekend
-Family Treemaker 2008
-time, time, and more time. It's going to be a busy year, and I haven't even started to think about what I really want.

The boy just called, and asked how I feel about smallish Robins' Egg Blue boxes. I don't dare to think...

Hey, no problem. I live to serve. (haha)
Heck no, you are not lame!! You have to love and support your GLO (Phi Mu?) and if letters is how you see fit, by all means, order 100 shirts. :D

Of course, I'm sure "The Ring" would trump any set of letters....:rolleyes:

I haven't given it much thought.

World Peace.

Still loving this SockPuppet.


My mother is being lame and giving me the $$ for the Beta Kappa badge I won on eBay, and wrapping that up for Christmas.:rolleyes:

I really don't want any "stuff" (electronics, kitchenware, toys, knickknacky things) for Christmas. My house has too much "stuff". I'd settle for places to put "stuff" - toyboxes, bookshelves, or an armoire.

Aw, AlphaFrog, at least you know you will like what your mother got you.
I want -
1. a Gamma Phi Beta skin for my laptop. Haven't found one - but surely they exist somewhere???
2. LUSH products - won't get any,and money crunch means I can't justify buying any myself. Booooooooo . . .
3. New job in Florida.
4. My eldest daughter to decide to go to college.

That's it . . .

LPI, I know that feeling well... I was there just last year. I hope your wish comes true!

Since my hubby is home this Christmas, I want:

The Lucky Shopping Manual
A Lush gift card
a medium brown pocketbook
and new tourmaline ceramic hair appliances (dryer, flat iron, curling iron)

This reminds me of my Mom- on Thanksgiving she walked me around the house showing me all of her things and telling me the history behind them and who she wants to have what (she almost died in May so she if focused on her own mortality right now). Looks like I am slated to get the silver coffee service and the Rosenthal china.

Since the china will be mine in many, many years (hopefully) we decided to have thanksgiving dinner on them (and the 2 year old didn't break anything!)

As for Christmas, I want a new watch and my back patio light fixed.

Don't even get me started on that, lol. I know what I'm getting already since my man bought it on Ebay and I'm seriously nosey and don't get me wrong, it's something I really wanted (ok, it's a Coach purse) but we all know we'd like to see a little blue box tied with white ribbon in that purse, LOL.

For the record, I'd also like a new ZTA badge - emeralds and pearls or turquoise and pearls with white gold please. And some stuff for the new house - art for the walls, plants for outback, etc. And I'm buying myself new tires for my car this week cuz I'm a practical girl too. :) Ooh, and some dressy sweaters I can wear to work would be nice. And I'd also really like one of those disc pendants with the filagree border that has the ZTA crest on one side and the letters on the other. My family tradition is to not wear our lavalier after graduation, so we wear the crown pendant or something else. I've been wearing my crown off and on for 3 years now and I want another option!

Ok, that's all :D

P.S. I totally forgot the most important thing I want (that I'm not getting) would be for J not to deploy and leave me for 15 months!!! :(

That's an odd tradition. I understand those who don't wear their lavalier after graduation because they think it makes them appear to be holding on to their college days, but for it to be an actual tradition? So, do you will it away at Sr wills, or does it just sit in your jewelery box for the rest of your life?

It's kind of an unofficial family tradition I guess, and it probably has a lot to do with holding onto collegiate days. I'm not sure if any other families in my chapter did this, but some of the girls in my family started wearing something besides their lavalier when they began their senior year, as did some other girls in other families. I gave mine to my second little at our senior ceremony when I graduated since she still had two years to go. Normally in my chapter though, your Berry Buddy is supposed to buy it for you when you get initiated, but I knew I would be graduating the semester I took my second little so I never got her a Berry Buddy (lazy senioritis perhaps). Your Berry Buddy is selected by your big and does a little clue thing during Link Week (week prior to initiation) and right after you're initiated and get your gifts from your big, your Berry Buddy reveals herself by giving you your lavalier. Your Berry Buddy is someone that is close to your Big and is supposed to serve as a sort of surrogate Big if you're ever not available for her. It's usually someone not in your family (though I suppose it could be, especially in my case since my two littles got so close they won Frick and Frack after I left).

Whew, sorry that was kind of a long explanation! :p

I don't know what I want to ask for for Christmas, but so far the holiday shopping is working out well for me! I've bought myself three pairs of shoes, four pairs of sunglasses, some pants, a sweater and a scarf. I must be the kind of shopper the stores love!:rolleyes:

Seriously, I just want everybody home safe and sound for a nice holiday.

Tickets to the Rose Bowl

Go Bucks!

I own the Lucky Shopping Manual. If you get it from someone or buy it as a gift to yourself you'll enjoy it! It's quite helpful.

The Gamma Phi Beta skins for laptops do exist! I've seen some for my sorority and for my college (Penn State). Did you google it? I know they also make skins of organizations for your ipod or whatever. In fact, if you go on your cell phone and find the "College and Greek Logos" section while searching for songs, wallpapers, etc. (on your phone) you can have your letters (and some orgs. actually have their crests, as well) on your cell phone all the time as a screen saver! Check it out-they have all types of Greek Organizations-I've even seen SGRho on there because one of my friends is in SGRho and I pointed it out to her-she is all about her group-so, I showed her how to get it......Happy Holidays!

I've googled it, and found a site with lots of greek skins, but not Gamma Phi Beta, alas.

This...

http://tbn0.google.com/images?q=tbn:...an/emerald.jpg

I already got my christmas wishes...I would feel too greedy to ask for anything more...

My sister came through her surgery with great prognosis (they got it all!) Her outlook is exceptionally good.

My dad's party went off with only the usual family dramas...(you wouldn't believe maybe I will post it later!) But dad was so surprised he had tears in his eyes!

That is all I wanted.