Got somebody in your life who is hard to buy for?  Either they HAVE everything under the sun or they just aren’t into hobbies, movies, pictures, etc?

See More Funny Pictures|I want catnipz

Maybe you could give a gift in their name.

I never know what to buy for my kids teachers.  Or the minister at church.  They get plenty of stuff and I never know what to buy, but I want to get them something so they know I thought of them.

The past few years, I’ve done something a little different.  I’ve donated money in their name.  I go with World Vision-this is a Christian-based organization that works to provide food, education and tools to the disadvantaged.

• For $25, you can buy 2 chickens that will go to a poor family in a poor country-the eggs can be used for food and they can sell the extra for some money.
• For $32, you can provide education for one child.  (I usually do one like this for the teachers, or the one that provides school supplies)

When you buy from their ‘gift’ catalog, you can print out a card or have a card mailed to the recipient of your choice, that lets them know a gift was given in their name.

I go with World Vision because it’s got an excellent reputation and it supports causes that mean a lot to me, namely children.

But there are a lot of charities that provide similar options.  I found:

• Unicef
• Heifer
• Food for the Poor
• MercyCorps
• Nature

There are probably others…if you have a charity that’s near and dear to your heart, check them out.  They may offer a ‘gift’ catalog as well.  Giving a ‘gift’ in someone’s name is a rather different gift, a unique one and it kind of gives twice-it lets your loved one know you thought of them, and it also helps out somebody who really, really needs it. Make sure you research any charities before donating, if you aren’t familiar with them.  I like http://www.charitynavigator.org/

• 22:02 What I’m tweeting about: wp.me/p2E96-11R #
• 08:12 @IBeAngie eek-i write too much faster my wrists will explode…. #
• 08:12 yay! my 30 day winner contacted me… boo…. i can’t keep the purse…. ah well. #
• 08:40 Gifts for Writers: wp.me/p2E96-11S #
• 09:13 @trelaina oh you wench. Now *I* want one. #
• 09:15 @RebeccaYork43 LMAO. Hey, give them credit for enthusiasm. #
• 09:43 Too frickin funny. go see. Book pr0n bit.ly/8ulTRU by @meljean #
• 10:42 #amreading Night Child by Jes Battis. Going to knock a book off my TBR shelf. #
• 14:48 The DH might be on overtime tomorrow. If he is… is it wrong to kick the kids out of the house for a few hours so I can write? #
• 15:01 @McVane eh, dunno if that’s a good idea for a 3 year old…. #
• 16:03 @nashjar oh now that’s a repulsive image. #
• 21:16 spent the evening playing Santa’s elf. presents are wrapped. #
• 21:16 we said we wouldn’t go overboard. #
• 21:16 we went overboard. #
• 21:32 my head. it pounds. i go to bed now? #

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Inspired by PBW’s post.

So you got a writer in your life?  Wanna know what to buy her? Him?

Well, there are some things I think that are universally loved by writers.  Or needed.

See More Funny Pictures|Stocking Stuffers

• Books.  It’s pretty much an accepted fact that writers can never have enough books.  Don’t know what books to buy?  See below
• Gift certificates to bookstores.  We love shopping for books almost as much, or as much, as we love reading them.
• Craft books-no, not knitting, sewing… writing craft books.  But be warned, some of us like them more than others.  I like books on characterization more than anything else. Others prefer plot books.  Some hate writing books period, so this could be tricky.  Might be better to just do the GC idea.
• Research books.  Like… Forensics for Dummies-just in case the writer needs to know how to dispose of a body, that sort of thing. FICTIONALLY.  This book is my current best friend while I figure out kinks in my RS trilogy.
• Notebooks.  Little notebooks for the car, the purse, because sometimes inspiration strikes in very inconvenient places.
• Got bucks to spend?  Maybe a Sony Reader or the Barnes and Noble Nook (the nook is backordered.)  Personally, I love and adore the Sony Touch-$299, because I can take notes on the screen (nifty touchscreen feature), either in a note format using text or handwriting, or I can make notes on a book-handy for my books, and I also like it at church.
• GCs to office supply stores. Many of us like office supply stores.  Don’t ask me why.  We just do.  Pens and notepads and gadgets.
• “Careful or you’ll end up in my novel” shirts.  Self-explanatory. (also from PBW)

So there ya go.

Me?  This year, I told the DH, my mom, my in-laws I wanted cash.  I need a new laptop.

• 22:02 What I’m tweeting about: wp.me/p2E96-11Q #
• 22:51 sometimes I log into twitter at completely the wrong moment. oh man, the COMPLETE wrong moment. O_O #
• 22:59 @limecello *G* Sadly, my brain is a little too off kilter to remember what it was now… ask me after my brain levels… *G* #
• 23:01 @MichellePillow the best buy one drives me nuts. #
• 23:01 New winner name drawn…: wp.me/p2E96-11M #
• 23:03 It is sad when a winner doesn’t check back to claim prize. New winner name drawn…: wp.me/p2E96-11M #
• 23:06 Brain is doing very weird things tonight. I’ think I need to knock it off early. ciao twtter world. #
• 07:49 RT @christinadodd: Christmas is coming early ovr on my pal Teresa Medeiros’s Facebook Fan Page. Check it out … fb.me/3EDG5Y9 #
• 07:50 morning world….one week left til Christmas. Need to make cookies. #
• 08:06 @twolilstarz um…. no…. LOL #
• 08:07 @bridgemama depends on whether or not they are really, REALLY easy. *G* #
• 08:07 Yes, sadly…it wasn’t. I kept thinking if it was, we could work something out…. ;o) @DrkCherry @flchen1 #
• 08:12 #ff @FakeAPStylebook @LarissaIone @mark_henry @katiebabs @DakotaCassidy @marjoriemliu @Rob_Thurman @JackieKessler @Borders @alyssa_day #
• 08:28 @bridgemama cool. #
• 10:20 i went on my bout of self torture this morning. ran the whole 1.15 mile, too. wheeze. gasp. #
• 10:23 New winner name drawn/posted…. hurry up and claim the prize, before I cave and keep the purse… bit.ly/8hsTN3 #
• 10:24 RT @AccessRomance: AR All A-Blog Day 18: Win from Jaci Burton: Question: Name Jaci’s upcoming March 2010 release. bit.ly/5M9e0Q #
• 13:21 @bridgemama wow. that’s a lot of cookie recipes…. thank you! #
• 13:30 @LarissaIone well, it could be worse. Walmart on a Saturday is even scarier than a Target. At least around here. @patricemichelle #
• 13:30 i’m off to the mall and staples. sigh. #
• 13:39 Via Sheila English: Update: I heard back from the family of the 4 little boys who lost their parents this year. The -> bit.ly/72nfDN #
• 15:19 @YasmineGalenorn *gasp* you can eat those? ;o) #
• 15:21 @TessaDare Sherlock and I wanna see Princess and the Frog, too. Look s so cute #
• 15:22 Ho ho ho! Win a Macbook Pro from @dealsplus for Christmas. Details here: bit.ly/7kMWCB #
• 15:23 @YasmineGalenorn LMAO. You’re right. No way to say that innocently. #
• 15:29 guh. head. pounding. #
• 15:59 @Christine_dAbo eh, they’ll get better. had to go back on RX meds-now it’s just a waiting game. \ #
• 15:59 @VictoriaDahl that’s awful. #
• 16:25 Heh. could be fun….RT @TessaDare: Too bad we can’t all go see Sherlock together!@gwenhayes @limecello @jackiebarbosa @SonomaLass #
• 16:29 thanks for the #ff recs! #
• 16:34 @Rob_Thurman soooo… pretty to look at it? That’s it? #
• 16:35 @dpeterfreund now some of those are just gross. the female egg/omelette question? GROSS. #
• 16:36 Be afraid. Be very afraid. RT @dpeterfreund: Drink warning: www.slate.com/id/2238241/ #

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This is sad.  My winner of the pretty, pretty purse never did contact me.  Guys, remember, if you enter my contests, you do need to check back to see if you win, as specified in my disclaimer page.

Since my winner never contacted me, I’m drawing a new name for the pretty, pretty purse, even though I really want to keep the pretty, pretty purse myself.

New winner name is:

Blanche-(knkmom)… blanche, if you can email me @ shilohwalker(at)gmail.com, I’ll get the purse to you and all the goodies…please, claim it before I cave and keep the purse. ;o)

• 22:02 What I’m tweeting about: wp.me/p2E96-11G #
• 22:09 @BarbHicks then I say go for the martini…if I’m me… *G* And I’m me. :OP Thanks for the concern, though wicked evil bad barb #
• 22:09 egads. my kids are asleep. including the sick one. So I think I’m going to go crash too…. and hope I don’t want up sick myself. whimper #
• 08:01 Yes, Virginia: wp.me/p2E96-11E #
• 08:11 @LaurieJD I dunno if I’ll make it or not, which really, really bites. #
• 10:27 I just got a foreign translation of the Mammoth book of vampire romance. but i’m not sure what language… #
• 10:29 i think it might be italian. #
• 10:30 @Hockeyvampiress got the bookmarks. #
• 10:31 @Hockeyvampiress thank you! #
• 10:43 CONTEST…RT @murdershewrites: Another Wednesday Giveaway – $50 Visa Card!: It’s going to be a Wonderful Wednesday .. bit.ly/6wQM0w #
• 10:47 Bargain price on Hunters: heart & soul -(book @ Amazon. $3.23. bit.ly/6sT72z #
• 16:31 finished my Christmas shopping. Except for 3 lousy SD cards. But I don’t want 2, 4, 8 gigs. Want LESS. Sigh #
• 16:32 @StaciaKane oh i love spicy food. gimme buffalo wings and I’m a happy girl #
• 16:34 @limecello actually… they do have some… cool. if the DH doesn’t find any, I’ll buy from there tonight. #
• 16:36 @StaciaKane It’s okay, stacia. You can’t be expected to have impeccable food tastes all the time. ;o) Yummy. buffalo. #
• 16:37 @limecello having a lousy day? #
• 16:39 Dear Santa: All i want for Christmas is a few quiet days that I can devote to writing. JUST writing. #
• 16:39 @limecello well, that sounds like one hell of a way to reward yourself. ;o) #
• 16:40 @limecello And here’s a smile for you. I may have to abstain from my yummy strawberry wine for a bit. #
• 16:40 @limecello having a bout with chronic headaches and will have to see how RX works with wine. Sad, sad, sigh #
• 16:43 @limecello I’m trying to decipher that comment… gimme a second…. ah, okay. *G* May be ok, will just have to see. #
• 16:43 Scrooge, maybe? RT @ErrantDreams: Agreed. RT @thebookmaven: Ugly. Just ugly. RT @sarahw Garrison Keillor bitter much? bit.ly/7drn7D #
• 16:45 @dawnchartier it’s a nice Christmas wish, isn’t it? #
• 16:45 @limecello let me help you decide. You ARE more than a little random, possibly slightly crazy. ;o) #
• 18:53 Via Sheila English: Update: I heard back from the family of the 4 little boys who lost their parents this year. The -> bit.ly/5IJdFC #
• 18:53 Via Sheila English: Update: I heard back from the family of the 4 little boys who lost their parents this year. The -> bit.ly/8b7p8R #
• 19:24 @MauraAnderson hey. i emailed you… had a quick ? #
• 19:30 @MauraAnderson Will get back to you once i hear something. #

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One of my favorite Christmas traditions…. found @ newseum

“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 NINETY-FIFTH STREET.”

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.

• 07:24 @vivianakacreoen Hunter’s Need. Out two weeks ago. #
• 07:42 Bargain on ‘Heart & Soul (The Hunters, Book 8)’ @ Amazon $3.23 bit.ly/6EhRra #
• 07:43 @IBeAngie *G* The snow on the page? WordPress does that every year during December. easy Christmas decoration, yes? #
• 07:46 @LarissaIone congrats! #
• 12:08 Guest blogging at Borders True Romance today! bit.ly/7zM6S4 CONTEST… #
• 12:10 Ever notice how when your kid is sick, you almost need RX for Valium? head->desk head->desk head->desk. #
• 12:19 Guest blogging at Borders True Romance Today!: wp.me/p2E96-11C #
• 12:20 Guest blogging at Borders True Romance: wp.me/p2DvF-eT #
• 12:23 @anyabast I swear, I’m about to put my head through a wall. ( thought she was getting better until today. #
• 12:23 Thanks for the RTs! #
• 12:31 interesting ARC discussion…sick rotten won’t let me keep up. #
• 12:32 Will say that while I don’t go too bent out of shape if somebody sells an ARC, I do ask that they wait until the book releases. #
• 12:33 boils down to a courtesy thing. All my ARCS I’ve ever received, they do state NOT FOR RESALE. #
• 13:02 Yes, Virginia: wp.me/p2DvF-eV #
• 16:39 apparently it’s sick week here. now my little romeo aka my son is showing signs of being sick. whimper. #
• 16:40 Santa, all I want for Christmas are three healthy kids. lets gets the over and done with before Christmas. #
• 17:57 Guest blogging at Borders True Romance today! bit.ly/7zM6S4 CONTEST… #
• 19:32 Did somebody mention Cal? As in Cal and Niko? I want more Cal and Niko @JackieKessler @Rob_Thurman #
• 19:36 @marjoriemliu I think she’s going to make us wait though. @Rob_Thurman @JackieKessler #
• 19:37 it’s not even 8 and my little Romeo is napping. Yep. It’s official . I now have two sick kids. #
• 19:54 @Rob_Thurman Merry Christmas to me… *G* er… us….. @JackieKessler @marjoriemliu #
• 19:55 @meljean LMAO #
• 20:48 @JackieKessler *G* ain’t she? @marjoriemliu @Rob_Thurman #
• 20:48 @BarbHicks yeah. poor romeo. and poor mama. romeo gets motrin and a cookie. can I have motrin and a martini? #

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Come chat with me!  There’s a contest…

• 22:02 What I’m tweeting about: wp.me/p2E96-11A #
• 23:00 Pay thousands…sell 150 books.: wp.me/p2E96-11m #
• 19:13 What a deal. More on vanities… pay hundreds, thousands…sell 150 books. Wow. bit.ly/6DnNak #
• 19:24 @Luvdbi eh, slowly improving #
• 19:24 @vivianakacreoen luvs dollhouse, i do. #

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