I started the Christmas present wrapping very early this year. Well, not really early. Noon today is not so early, is it? Anyway, the pile of presents gets smaller and smaller every year as kids grow older and older so there weren't many to do and it still took me 2 hours to get it all done!

I don't have the wrapping bug in me any more. My tolerance for getting everything all pretty and sparkly is just about gone. I used to put package tie-ons on everything and go get special bows and ribbons but now it's like, feh. Can you see what's inside the paper? No? Done.

I blame it on gift bags. Once they invented them, I wanted no part of actual paper any more. Grab a couple pieces of tissue paper, crumble them up and shove everything in a bag. Yippee! And don't ever sign the little card attached to the bag. That way, the recipient can reuse the bag!

Martha Stewart tips, Empress style!