I am in full Enjoyable Calendar Fuss Mode now. When I went to my Amazon cart this morning, one of my calendar options (the Wallpaper calendar, which I found after writing this year’s calendar post) had dropped to half price so I bought it—but I’m not really sure about it (the picture of it makes it look like it might be one of the cheap dollar-store ones that rips and curls), and also I still need a second one.

In the meantime, let’s exchange loot lists! Here are some things I got this year:

A Week in Winter, by Maeve Binchy (photo from Amazon.com). This won’t be released in the U.S. until February, so what I got was a note in an envelope saying it had been pre-ordered. Which is what I asked for: this is Maeve Binchy’s last book (she died this year) and I really really really really really want it the very first minute I can have it. I don’t want to patiently wait for the library copy, or for the next gift occasion.

Kiva gift card (screenshot from Kiva.org). Kiva is one of those places where you can give a tiny loan (like, $25) to someone else. Then that person pays it back to you, and you can loan it out again. And again and again. The idea is that sometimes people only need a small boost to make a huge difference in the way they make a living (especially in a country where a little cash goes a long way), but banks are not going to loan them $100. Four Kiva members can team up to loan it, though. I’ve been enjoying loaning and re-loaning so much, I put a $25 Kiva card on my wish list.
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This is my favorite post of the year. I usually prefer to do it the Wednesday after Christmas, because that’s when it’s nice to have something fun and interesting to help counter the after-holiday slumpy feelings, and because a lot of calendars get marked down to 50% off the day after Christmas. But on the other hand I like to have the calendar in my hands before New Year’s Eve, and not all of us have Prime shipping. Plus, even if we didn’t want to BUY the calendar until it goes on sale, certainly we’d want to be READY to buy it, rather than scrambling to decide as favorites sell out. And finally, calendars are not all that expensive full-price, and they make very nice last-minute gifts for anyone you still haven’t found something for.

All of this is to say, “Hi! We’re talking about calendars today!”

Little Critters calendar (photo from Amazon.com). I chose the 2012 version of this calendar last year, and I have enjoyed it very much and would recommend it to others. Each picture was cheerful and whimsical without feeling too babyish—and yet it would also be cute in a child’s room. (I used to put up a calendar over the changing table just to have something to look at as I stood there two dozen times a day.)

This is San Francisco calendar (photo from Amazon.com). I’ve visited San Francisco several times and I had such a nice time there that now I have a soft spot for it. This calendar is a frontrunner for me this year. I love the style of art. There’s also a This is New York calendar and a This is London calendar by the same artist.
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Here is the problem I run into at Christmas: I want to show you gift ideas, but some of my family members read this blog, and some of the things I want to show you are things I bought for them. Solution, after much brow-wrinkled concentration: tell family not to read blog this month.

Bent Objects (photo from Amazon.com). Paul saw this book somewhere and bought it for my brother’s wife (that sounds so biblical, but if I say “my sister-in-law” it could be Paul’s sister, and it would be less interesting that he’d impulsively bought a gift for her). He thought it seemed perfect for her. It seems to me that it would also be great if you need a fun and whimsical gift for someone who’s a little difficult to buy for. It’s a good “everyone will pass it around” book.

Miracle Fruit Tablets (photo from Amazon.com). Oh, these look SO As Seen on TV! But do you remember awhile back when it seemed like all the magazines/shows were doing pieces on this special berry you could chew that would make sour things taste sweet? There were, like, PARTIES where you could partake of this miracle berry? And I thought, “This sounds so cool! Where can I buy this product?” and the answer was “Nowhere! Someone has to bring it to you after visiting some other country!” OKAY THEN. But here is a packet of it! On Amazon! Clearly I have bought a packet, and we will have a party.
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One of my sisters-in-law loves cats and cat-related things, and I have been searching for a cat-related gift for her, so I have cat gifts ON THE BRAIN.

Chuvora Sterling Silver Cat Silhouette Earrings (photo from Amazon.com). I think these are pretty, without being too Cat Lady.

Black Cat Print Set by Kerry Beary on Etsy (photo from the shop). This is more than I want to spend, but I love them and want them FOR MYSELF. And there are a number of $20 prints I want to consider for my sister-in-law. And I’m going to go back later to browse more and put some on my own wish list too.

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