Naughty or Nice

Christmas is almost here. I love Christmas, it's one of my favorite Holidays. The Christmas music, special winter time hot beverages a la Dunkin Donuts, and yes even the snow. Now normally I hate the snow, but this is the one time of year I actually like it.

What kind of Christmas music would one find in my Pandora or iTunes?... Well that would be the Classics artists such as: The Rat Pack, Gene Autry, Nat King Cole, The Ronettes,  1940's Christmas, a Very Special Christmas (all of them), you get my drift. I can sit and listen to Christmas music for hours.

One thing I'm just not really all about is shopping. I mean I like shopping as much as the next person, but I think Christmas has become far too commercialized over the years. It seems to get worse with each passing year. I was a-gasp when I learned that one of my favorite places to shop Kohl's was going to stay open 24hrs a day until Christmas. I'm all for capitalism but that is just silly. I mean how much shopping does one have to do for crying out loud? Not to mention how it affects the employees who have to work the overnight shifts.

For me Christmas is about the birth of my Lord and Savior Jesus. I do buy a few small gifts for my immediate family, husband, and furkids, literally a handful of people. Gifts are great but I love going after Christmas and scoring some great finds, so buying gifts for me is super easy... can anyone say gift card?

So since the big day is almost upon us, why not take a break from the hustle and bustle for a little laugh? Check out this episode of "Ava The Diva" and see what happens to Greek Girls who are mean to Santa. Make that mean to Santa or Mr. Bricks her manager, one may never know.

Maybe a big ol lump of coal in the stocking... Here's my little disclaimer: "Ava The Diva" is my alter ego to the sarcastic tenth power. Wishing you and yours a great big smile, time spent with friends family and loved ones, and a beautiful blessed Christmas!

Blessings,
Ava xo
www.avaaston.com

How to Fake out Santa Claus: Making the Nice list

Ok, don't send me hate mail for writing a Christmas blog in early November, but there is a reason. And I promise you won't have any Christmas carols stuck in your head after reading this. Maybe a few visions of dancing sugar plums, but no carols. I promise.

Now is the time of year when we all start thinking about Christmas gifts. Not always so much what we are giving others, but more about what we want. We need to start early because we were told as children that Santa Claus knows when you are naughty or nice and quite frankly, speaking only for myself, some of us need to make up for lost time...it's been a full year.

I can look back and laugh now because of how often my parents used the naughty or nice ploy to get their unruly daughter to behave when out in public. It is trickery many parents resort to get their own children to eat their vegetables, do house chores, make their bed or clean up their rooms. It was used on me often to quit beating up my sisters. Ever see four little Greek girls fight? It wasn't pretty. I remember one time I was midstream of a good hairpull at the shopping mall when I heard my questioning Mom ask, "Ava...What do you think Santa Claus is doing right now young lady? (pause), -- He's adding your name to the naughty list, that's what he's doing." I loved it when she not only asked a question, but when she also answered it in the same breath like that. Classic parent manipulation 101.

Of course I know now that was just a load of crap, but I did buy into it hook, line and sinker back then. I wasn't much of a gambler back then as a 4-year old, nor am I much one now, but I wasn't willing to risk not getting a slinky and other toys I wanted delivered under the tree. So I would always immediately tow the line.

But now, a couple of years later (wink, wink) I am still in the mantra of wanting to please a non-existent fat man in outlandish clothing.  Ha Ha, a fat man in outlandish clothing, that sounds like I'm talking about my manager, Mr. Bricks, doesn't it? So without risking the things I want under the tree this year I need to fake out the big guy.  So here goes:

Santa -- That wasn't me that left that door ding on that BMW.

Santa -- I have never accessed my neighbor's wi-fi.

Santa -- What? You mean I didn't leave a tip to that rude waitress at the diner? My bad.

Santa -- I think Mr. Bricks is the best manager ever.

Santa -- It just looked like a scowl at the nice policeman, I was smiling, really I was.

Santa -- Doesn't everyone take and eat a few grapes while in the produce section?

Santa -- I thought those were my seats at the Heart-Red Velvet Tour  concert. Someone must of switched my tickets when I wasn't looking.

and finally....

Santa -- Have I ever told you how sexy you look in that red and white crushed velvet suit of yours? Mrs. Claus is a very lucky woman!

Fa la la la la and Blessings,

Ava

xox

www.avaaston.com