Dude. I still have company, and I’m not sure what DAY it is half the time, let alone squared away enough to compose a post. WHEW. Once again, though, Melisa comes to my rescue…with a post on this most yummy of holidays – National Chocolate Day! ~Ri

This is a strange time of year, the week between Christmas and January 1. The holiday food overdoses are, thank goodness, coming to an end—except in the homes of people who baked way too many cookies this year—and thoughts of New Year’s resolutions begin to creep into heads everywhere, most commonly relating to losing weight and/or getting fit.

That’s why today’s strange holiday puzzles me. It’s National Chocolate Day. Did you know that? It’s got weird calendar placement, don’t you think? I mean, it would make more sense if it were during the week of Valentine’s Day, the week of Easter, or the week before Christmas. Today? Hmm. I wonder who decreed that. Quite possibly, it was someone who decided that their New Year’s resolution would be to give up chocolate, and they wanted one last hurrah before then. I think that’s a plausible theory.

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Pssst! Ri again. So, it’s Christmas night. OMG, I am exhausted. My kid is three – that ALONE should be enough explanation, but add in the fact that my Mother in Law arrived from Texas today, I cooked both a Turkey AND a Standing Rib Roast (complete with Yorkshire Pudding) simultaneously for dinner and I have slept a total of six hours total in two nights and…well.

I’ve got no posts in me right now.

Thank cheeses that Melisa from Suburban Scrawl loves me – she’s filling in today with a VERY timely Holiday post. I heart her.  And,  um…the Thank You Note is in the mail.  ;)

Take it away, “One S”!

Now that the holidays are over, you’ve got a bunch of new goodies to play with and your recycling bin is overflowing with crumpled-up wrapping paper. What to do now? Be thankful, of course!

Today, December 26, is National Thank You Note Day. In this day and age when it’s easy to shoot off a quick e-mail or text message, it’s more important than ever to slow down and really let people know that you appreciate the time and effort they took when providing a service for or giving a gift to you. As you write your thank you notes today (by hand, please: NOT on the computer!), listen to this handy-dandy playlist for inspiration.

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I’m baking, baking, baking! No time to stop and post! But, I will share with you the long promised MSM Holiday Playlist – and remind you that it is an Group Endeavor! So, click on it and feel free to add Christmas music with wild abandon. I’m going to add more just as soon as I finish this Egg Nog-

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Y’know, I have to give it to advertisers.  They’re including more and more music in their ads, and I like it.

Now, don’t get me wrong; the inclusion of a catchy drumbeat or a smooth bassline doesn’t blind me to the fact that they’re trying their damndest to get their hand in my wallet.  But it does make the act a bit more palatable.  And some really great bands get more exposure this way…which is ALWAYS a good thing.

So, this year when you’re handing over your hard earned dough, you can at least take solace in the fact that you got a lil’ extra something out of it. Maybe you got turned on to a new favorite band, or reminded of an old one.  There are scads of examples, of course…I just grabbed some that tickled me to share with you.  See below for playlist of complete songs.

***Bonus Family Tidbit!

Our own good buddy Rock and Roll Mama’s husband is represented, yo!  He’s the bass player for Clutch, rocking out on Electric Worry, featured on the game Left 4 Dead 2 for XBox 360.  WOOT!

Bang, bang, bang, bang y’all…

Left For Dead 2 for Xbox 360 = Clutch, Electric Worry

iPod Touch = Tommy Sparks, She’s Got Me Dancin’

Borderlands for Xbox 360 = Cage the Elephant, Ain’t No Rest for the Wicked

Palm Pixi = Passion Pit, Sleepyhead

Amazon Kindle = Annie Little, Fly Me Away

Apple iPod nano 5G = Miss Li, Bourgeoisie Shangri La

T-Mobile my Touch = Cat Stevens, If You Want to Sing Out, Sing Out

Travelers Insurance = Trouble, Ray LaMontagne

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So, it’s come to my attention that some bloggers work long and hard for months in advance of the Holiday Season, putting together “Gift Guides”.  They research the hippest, coolest stuff.  They are sent samples to try.  They organize and categorize, then present you, the reader, with a clear and concise list of EXACTLY what you should be giving or getting this year.

Well, I’ll be damned.

I’m lucky if I can get my OWN gift list scribbled on the back of an envelope before I head out the door on the week before Christmas with an hour and a half set aside in which I must get EVERYTHING bought, wrapped and hidden.  You think I’m going to spend that much time on YOU guys?  I mean…I love you and all, but…phhffttt!

What I DID do for you, however, turned out to be way more fun and potentially way more useful.  I Tweeted.

Yep, the other day I threw out a random 140 plea to readers who have an Etsy/Ebay/Brick and Mortar/Imaginary storefront of some kind…or who just sell stuff.  (Legally, of course.)  I asked them to reply with a song and a fave item from their store to go into this post, the

FIRST ANNUAL

MUSIC SAVVY MOM

VERRRYYY LAST MINUTE GIFT GUIDE!

I think we turned up some damn nice stuff!  I added photos of the items, but you’ll have to click the links to get all the details.  And, I’m not saying you’ll be able to get these in time for Christmas unless you happen to live next door to one of these fine folks…but, like I always say – the Magi  showed up with THEIR presents a week late, so in my mind a very clear precedent has been set.

Check the links, add these kind folks on Twitter and enjoy the tunes.  And, most importantly, don’t say I never did anything nice for you.

You’re welcome.

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@TheBeadGirl :

@MusicSavvyMom ok here goes! Song:   Verve Pipe-Happiness Is:  and one of my favs in my shop!

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@HaroldandJane :

@MusicSavvyMom Sweet! Best stuff – Song: Blind Pilot “Poor Boy”

Just ‘cuz I’m in a musical mood today, if you haven’t already, you should check out Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros. Good stuff.

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@Archimatta:

@MusicSavvyMom – “Don’t Lose Your Head” by Queen.  Gift Suggestion.

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@Mikeandthemoms

@MusicSavvyMom This isn’t my Etsy store (belongs to a friend), but she makes amazing bags. I bought one for my wife…

@MusicSavvyMom Sure! Since you’re in a British/Indie mood… you’ve got to with Thom Yorke’s “FeelingPulledApartByHorses”

@MusicSavvyMom Oh, and I’m just now checking out Tides and Tides’ album, “Sixstarhotel” — really liking it so far.

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@FarmsteadLady

@MusicSavvyMom – Twisted by Carrie Underwood and this necklace

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