Okay, maybe there’s something slightly creepy about seeing the old elf with a cigarette in his hand, but  back in the day, a Lucky would be just the thing for Santa baby after a long, arduous night of breaking and entering. But it’s 2014 and that Santa’s gone like the smokes, as well as all that cholesterol-laden milk and Oreos. For this gen’s kiddies we have a cool Kris Kringle, non-fat and gluten-free, with no more Barbies or Play-Doh or plastic trucks. For the hipsters kids we have organic plush animals and our First Banjo, or my personal fave, the Candy Pink Marabou hat. But hey, the important thing is the feeling about this time of year hasn’t changed, and it’s still all about good will toward men, women, and anyone else in between. And of course, the belief that things will always get better in the New Year, because if can’t believe that, if you don’t have that hope, what else really matters?

The Merriest of Christmases, the Happiest of New Year’s, and the best of everything to everyone in 2015.

Gwen