The Lovely Folks I Work With

Today's Joy: Our Corporate Christmas Party.
Had a wonderful time yesterday, Reader. Our 11 store managers and the corporate staff gathered at Venuti's in Addison, IL for a last meeting & holiday party to round out the year. The food was amazing and it was great to be able to visit with everyone. I gave out a dozen of my Oreo Truffles to each store manager and they were met with much delight. We also did a gift drawing and I received a cute little lime green Ipod Nano. (Never had one before, so someone will have to show me how to use it!) The company I work for is incredibly generous. What a blessing it is to have this job and be surrounded by great people!


A Sampling of the Venuti's Buffet
(Clockwise from top: salad, green bean salad with white beans, roasted potato wedges, ziti with vodka sauce, cheese-stuffed ravioli, broiled tilapia, steamed broccoli & crusty Italian bread)


Got Some Great Stuff in the Gift Drawing:
A Yoga Mat & matching Ipod Nano

Confectionery Creativity

Today's Joy: Truffling.
Aunt, the English Teacher, has added a new verb to our family lexicon, Reader: truffling. Meaning literally: to truffle. It's an apt description of what I've been doing over the last several days. With the Christmas spirit coursing through me like some sort of holiday energy drink, I decided a couple weeks ago to make Oreo Truffles for all 11 of the stores I work with for Christmas. I love to make truffles and people really love to eat them, so it seemed a perfect fit.

Of course, rolling, dipping & decorating 11 dozen truffles (with an extra 4-5 dozen thrown in for family members and holiday parties) is no simple task. But I'd promised myself on Thanksgiving that I was not going to get caught up in holiday stress & anxiety this year. Instead, this season I'm going to give wherever I can and savor the holiday moments. So I've really enjoyed all the little things, like stuffing a few dollars in the Salvation Army Bell Ringer's bucket, getting gingerbread lattes from Starbucks, decorating my red & white candy tree, drinking Tom & Jerry's and Christmas shopping with my family. Being mindful has made this the most enjoyable Christmas season I've had in years.


The Truffle Assembly Line


But, back to truffling. I'd set myself a serious truffle challenge, Reader. And it took me Sunday afternoon as well as couple evenings this week to finish them all (thank goodness for Aunt's help with the sprinkling!). My favorite part was drizzling the last batch with white chocolate. There's just something Godiva-decadent about drizzle on chocolates. It takes a truffle to the next level. But I digress.

Once all 11 dozen were nestled in their little tins and packed up, I felt so good! Couldn't wait to give them out at the office Christmas party. Funny, how all the joy more than makes up for the work I put in.


Trufflicious

Little Elf

Today's Joy: Giving Of One's Self.
Brrrr!!! It feels more like January than December here in Chicago, Reader. But I was on a mission this morning, so I braved the frigid wind gusts and blowing snow to drive cross-town with my camera.

I have a coworker who's had a big year. Her 2nd child, a beautiful daughter, was born much earlier than expected this summer and required an extended (and expensive) hospital stay before she could come home. Add to that the family's recent move to a lovely new home--plus all the usual holiday hooplah--and my poor coworker is exhausted. She's been feeling guilty about not having enough energy to pack up her significant other, 2 year-old & new baby and stand in line at the mall for Christmas pictures. Well, that is something I can help with.


With Big Brother

So, I volunteered to go to their house and shoot the family portrait right there in front of the Christmas tree. Dog and all! Fast forward to this morning and no amount of cold, freezing rain or sleet was going to keep me from using the gift God has given me to bring joy to a friend. After all, it's her daughter's first Christmas. And long after she forgets how tired she feels right now, she will remember how adorable & precious her children are. This gift I'm able to give will bring joy for many years. It doesn't get much better than that.


The Best Gift This Year

You don't have to spend a lot to give a meaningful gift this year, Reader. Just give of what you have in abundance: your strengths. The effort may well prove to be the best gift you receive this Christmas.