what's your resolution?

Wow, this is it- 2008 is drawing to a close. It's been an amazing year, filled with positives and negatives. Stock market crashes, wars, natural disasters; these all take the wind out of your sails. Unfortunately it takes the wind out of sales too, jewelry sales (like every other business) are down, and it is hard to predict when things will improve. We have a new president, and hope that things will settle down and the recession makes a quick exit and the economic climate starts to improve.

But, hey, we can't change the world all by ourselves. Maybe this is a time that the best thing you could do is to try and improve your own situation, and hope that if everyone did the same the world would be a better place. Maybe that's where resolutions come in. New Year's eve is a perfect day to reflect on the changes we want (or need) to make and resolve to follow through on those changes as 2009 comes at us.

This is a very old tradition, it is said that New Year's Resolutions began back as far as 153 B.C. Janus, a mythical king of early Rome was placed at the head of the calendar, as he had two faces, and could look back on past events and forward to the future. Janus became the ancient symbol for resolutions and many Romans looked for forgiveness from their enemies and also exchanged gifts before the beginning of each year.

I've looked around, and found a few lists of "top resolutions" we all make. Some are no surprise- our top resolution is to spend more time with family and friends. We all want to be healthier, the top resolutions include lose weight, quit smoking, be physically fit, and quit drinking. After that, we want better finances- getting out of debt and finding a better job are resolutions millions of americans will make.

With all of these, it is good to see that there were some optimistic resolutions that made the top 10 list. We want to help others, enjoy life more, and learn something new. I've never spent a lot of time making resolutions, it seems an easy way to depress yourself if you do not become thin, rich or famous in the coming year. But I have a permanent resolution concerning the last few- I always try to take some time to just enjoy life, and always try to help others. I had some great experiences with the step-up women's network this past year, and have always been a volunteer for a good cause- it is very rewarding.

So take a moment to do what the Romans did, look at the year past and get an idea of what you'd like to do for the coming year, and try to do it. And then, take some time to relax- we made it out of a very crazy year. Plan to do something or be with someone to ring in the new year and start 2009 in style. Check out the celebrations where you live, or just watch our New York City celebration on TV. Don't pay too much attention to the ball though, it is Waterford, not Swarovski crystal !! I wish all my family and friends the best, may we all have a happy new year. Ciao and Buon Capodanno !

Merry Christmas from agirlfromqueens

Away in a manger,

No crib for His bed

The little Lord Jesus

Laid down His sweet head

The stars in the bright sky

Looked down where He lay

The little Lord Jesus

Asleep on the hay

Away in a manager is always the first carol that children are taught. It was originally published in 1885. We know that "Away in a Manger" was published in a Lutheran Sunday school book and this created the misconception that the lyrics of Away in a Manger were actually written by Martin Luther himself, though the timeline would make that impossible.

The author is unknown. The music to the carol was composed by William J. Kirkpatrick in 1895, and it is still pretty popular to this day, with multiple versions on my ipod, from the carpenters, nat king cole and the celtic women (and a couple more).

The photo above is of the manger in our house, it's a relic from my grandmothers time. In our family, we keep the baby Jesus hidden till this morning. For my mother, it would have been unthinkable to put him out earlier, 'cause "he wasn't born yet" !! Now that it's christmas morning, into the creche he goes!

Of course in a couple of weeks they will all go into storage, but it's the story of christmas thats important, not the icons or the presents or any of the things that make this the most commercial religious holiday the world has ever known. I try not to mix these things up, I respect the religious holiday but I bought lots of presents, and last night, signed a letter to Santa Claus. Today, after opening our gifts and welcoming our family, we all sat down to a wonderful christmas feast- get a look at Carly and the roast.

I wish all readers the best, for a happy holiday and a peaceful and prosperous new year. ciao and buon natale !!

virginia, your little friends are wrong !

here's a piece that is one of my favorites, perfect for

this time of year. Leave your skepticism at the door and enjoy!

From the New York Sun, Sept. 21, 1897

DEAR EDITOR: I am 8 years old.
Some of my little friends say there is no Santa Claus.
Papa says, 'If you see it in THE SUN, it's so.'
Please tell me the truth; is there a Santa Claus?

VIRGINIA O'HANLON
115 West 95th Street
New York City
VIRGINIA, your little friends are wrong. They have been affected by the skepticism of a skeptical age. They do not believe except [what] they see. They think that nothing can be which is not comprehensible by their little minds. All minds, Virginia, whether they be men's or children's, are little. In this great universe of ours man is a mere insect, an ant, in his intellect, as compared with the boundless world about him, as measured by the intelligence capable of grasping the whole of truth and knowledge.

Yes, VIRGINIA, there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy. Alas! how dreary would be the world if there were no Santa Claus.


It would be as dreary as if there were no VIRGINIAS. There would be no childlike faith then, no poetry, no romance to make tolerable this existence. We should have no enjoyment, except in sense and sight. The eternal light with which childhood fills the world would be extinguished.

Not believe in Santa Claus! You might as well not believe in fairies! You might get your papa to hire men to watch in all the chimneys on Christmas Eve to catch Santa Claus, but even if they did not see Santa Claus coming down, what would that prove? Nobody sees Santa Claus, but that is no sign that there is no Santa Claus. The most real things in the world are those that neither children nor men can see. Did you ever see fairies dancing on the lawn? Of course not, but that's no proof that they are not there. Nobody can conceive or imagine all the wonders there are unseen and unseeable in the world.

You may tear apart the baby's rattle and see what makes the noise inside, but there is a veil covering the unseen world which not the strongest man, nor even the united strength of all the strongest men that ever lived, could tear apart. Only faith, fancy, poetry, love, romance, can push aside that curtain and view and picture the supernal beauty and glory beyond. Is it all real? Ah, VIRGINIA, in all this world there is nothing else real and abiding.

No Santa Claus! ! Thank God! he lives, and he lives forever. A thousand years from now, Virginia, nay, ten times ten thousand years from now, he will continue to make glad the heart of childhood.


I rediscovered this famous letter when it was read by Marty Keating at his fabulous holiday party held in New York City this week. It comes from Newsman Francis Pharcellus Church, who wrote The Sun's response to Virginia in 1897. The New York Sun ceased publication in the fall of 2008.

you better watch out

You better not cry

Better not pout I'm telling you why

Santa Claus is coming to town

He's making a list And checking it twice;

Gonna find out Who's naughty and nice

Santa Claus is coming to town

It's finally beginning to feel like christmas. I heard this song while waiting to buy something at the grand central station holiday fair, a shopping experience that they open just for the holidays. There are some folks selling things you can't normally buy in new york (imagine that!) so I always visit this fair. Grand Central Station has set up a laser light show that stops traffic, projecting a great display on to the ceiling of the station. I missed it by 5 minutes, drat!

It's cold and rainy, but while I was out I decided to walk over to the new ice skating rink that's opened behind the New York Public Library. It was filled with happy skaters who are much braver than I am when it comes to spending this much time outdoors in the freezing cold!

Even though we're all worried about the economy, there are crowds in the stores and lots of people are shopping. Lord & Taylor had lots of crowds, and who wouldn't want to be there- they have a giant snow globe in the window. How cool is that? Times square was bustling, the tourists love it here and it's not hard to see why- it's non-stop action.

Of course, the main attraction is Rockefeller Center with the best tree in the city. It's wall-to-wall people, so I passed up the opportunity to visit the tree now that it is lit. I came by right before the tree lighting to check out the Swarovski booth, they supply the giant crystal star at the very top of the tree, and sell replicas and other crystals in this booth. As someone who works with their crystals, I was presented with a star ornament, as a token of thanks for all the work we did together this year. I decided to wear it as a necklace because I am so proud that they gave it to me. It's a bit heavy, and will probably end up on my christmas tree as an ornament, just like it's giant cousin is on top of this beautiful tree now all lit up at Rockefeller center.
We'll put up our tree this weekend, and decorate it with our family heirloom ornaments and a couple of new ones. There will certainly be room on the tree for my swarovski star, it can take the place of the NY Mets christmas ball that is being demoted to the back this year. Then, next week, after we've shipped most of our customers holiday orders I can go and do a bit of shopping myself. ciao !