Good Saturday morning!

My body woke me up 10 minutes after my usual work wake up time.  I hate yet love that.

I have big plans for today.  Nothing starts without oatmeal and coffee though.

I am loving my coffee black lately.  I’ve been buying local coffee which believe it or not is roasted by one of the doctors that works with my hospital.  Since when did I become such a coffee lover?  Sure grad school makes coffee necessary but that doesn’t mean you like it.

I am happy to breathe a little easier while running errands today.  I received great mail yesterday.  My drivers license actually expired last Friday on my birthday.  Since I was a “good driver” (no tickets!) I was eligible to forego renewing my license in person at the DMV and simply mail in a check and updated information.  My checked was cashed days before my license expired, but the mail was awfully slow with delivering my new license.  I’ve been wanting the physical proof of my licensure.  Side note: why is my licensure so hard to obtain for all things?

You know what’s awesome about the mail-in process besides the obvious visit of the DMV?  I get to keep the classic old Illinois license.  I’ve had the classic for an extra 5 years since the new ones came a month after my 21st birthday.  Any Illinois residents out there understand my feelings on this?  Or am I just a little nuts?

I have my usual errands to run which include groceries

and possibly SugarJones cupcakes.  Please drive yourself to Rockford to try these cupcakes.  They are that good.

Otherwise I need to do Christmas errands!

It’s been smelling a lot like Christmas lately!  This potpourri and a snowman is about as far as my apartment has seen for Christmas decorations.  I sent most of my things over to errands where we bought and decorated a tree last weekend in the 60* weather.  I also wanted to decorate the fireplace all cute.

This Christmas I am making it a mission to buy all gifts locally.  I am even buying local gifts for my California family.  I always have to ship gifts out.  The goal is always the lightest and most durable gifts.

Let’s take a moment and think about why local Christmas shopping is so much better than the big box stores.

1.  Near non-existent lines

2. No circling for parking spots

3. Personal help from the owner.  They give more insight behind the gifts that you then can share with the recipient!  They also can tell you what’s coming in future weeks, recommended size, recommended use/instructions, how the item was made, etc.

4. Unique gifts.  My family doesn’t live in Rockford so it is fun to give them something more personal of my life.  “This is the local coffee that is roasted in Rockford and sold at the wine shop Aaron works at.”  “These chocolates were featured on Oprah’s favorite things list this year.  The business started in Rockford and the chocolates are only sold at the wine shop Aaron works at.”

5. No crowded aisles.

6. Some offer unique packaging that can pass for wrapping.  I love a little variety under the Christmas tree.

7. Freebies!  Last year I bought chocolates from the local chocolate shop and the owner gave me a free bananas foster chocolate sample.

8. Additional culture.  One local store also has an art gallery.  The staircase to the art gallery is inside the store which makes it the perfect stop after buying your gifts.

9. You’re helping your peers/friends/community.  I’ve bought from store owners who Aaron and I interact with throughout the entire year.  I am able to help their business but also get to see them during the busy season.  A few nights ago I bought from a local shop and was told to tell Aaron “hello.”

10.  No duplicate gifts.  One year I kept receiving gifts that I already had.  I still appreciated the gifts, but I personally love to give someone something the person has never seen or never expected to receive.

Anyways.  I also then need to start wrapping gifts.

I really like wrapping gifts when I can get all straight lines and sharp corners.  I’m a little OCD with gift wrapping.

I would love to sneak in a run, too.  I haven’t run since last Saturday.  By the time I get home from work, the sun is down.  Running in the dark, in the winter, in a top10 most dangerous city is just unappealing.  I should check into temporary gyms for the winter months.  I hate gyms and gym fees though!