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I spend every Christmas in Houston with my family.

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Mom, in true Mom fashion, tends to spoil everyone with gifts galore.

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Since it's impossible to pack all these gifts in a suitcase, Mom ships the rest of the loot back to me via U.S. mail.

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This year, she waited.  And waited.  And waited.  Until January 21st.

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You would have thought that I would have immediately ripped open the box, right?

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Well...

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When you're juggling blog, work, puppy, friends, and life, the box might get stuffed into a closet until there's free time to unpack, sort, and find a place for everything.  (Like I said, Mom tends to go overboard.  Especially with the kitchen gadgets.)

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I decided to finally haul out the goods as a stress reliever<strong><a href="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/04/15/day-198-tax-relief/" target="_blank"> when I nearly hyperventilated from working on my taxes</a></strong>.

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Lurking in that box was stuff that I could have been using.  Like the Pampered Chef chip clips for example.  For about a month now, when I ran out of rubber bands and clips to seal bags of chips or frozen veggies, I have been using scotch tape!  Scotch tape!!!!

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Or the Chop Stir Kitchen Gadget (did I warn you about the kitchen gadgets??) that would have helped me during my <strong><a href="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/02/07/day-131-fireside-chili-chat-with-michelle/" target="_blank">White Chili</a></strong> cook off.

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Or...

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Surprise!  I had forgotten about the Camp4Coffee espresso!  Thank you, sis!

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Oops!  I guess I missed the season on these.

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Oh, well.  In my mind, the "mistletoe" in April will bring lots of kissing into my life.

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