as i sit down to do this years Christmas card (starting now, finishing sometime before Dec. 24 if you are lucky), i would like to pass on some holiday card tips to the rest of you.

*do not marry a man with 11 brothers and sisters unless he volunteers to help with the Chrismas cards. this was not in my pre-marital clause and i deeply regret it.

*don't keep your addresses in the address book you've had since 4th grade. get a new one, like you say you will every single year.

*don't buy Christmas cards with glitter on them unless you plan to look really festive for a few weeks. i have glitter on my tables, my counters, my dog, my hands, my hair, my clothes, my kids, my dinner. you will have the same glitter to deal with as soon as i get these in the mail. sorry.

*start doing your Christmas cards about July 15.

*teach your dog to lick the envelopes. i may or may not have done this. take your chances.

*if you have bad handwriting like i do, 1707 is probably really 1409. hopefully the postal system will just figure it out.

*procrastination is not your friend. neither is blogging about it. and now it's too late to start the cards.

*tomorrow is always a good day to do Christmas cards.