3 posts tagged “christmas”
Season’s Greetings Listers,
Wrap all your gifts yet? Well don’t rush! How you wrap a gift says a lot about who you are. And how you open it says even more.
Think about the cheapies whose gifts are wrapped in last Sunday’s sports page. And the lazies thrown in a plastic bag with the grocery receipt still stuck inside. Think about the hectic gifters with too much paper and the last green-tagged piece of Scotch tape. Compare those wrappers to OCD-gifters, with perfectly creased parallel lines, symmetrical bows, curled ribbons, and snowman nametags written in loopy cursive.
Now think about those “kids” who tear through their gift then race to the next. Directly contrasting the patiently-waitings, who keep to themselves until each gift has been handed out, sincerely savoring each and every present, opening not only the bag or wrapping, but also the manufacturer packaging, reading the card verbatim, and actually using the gift before moving on. And then there are the OCD-unwrappers making sure not to tear the paper, saving it for re-gifting next year.
First impressions are everything. And a first impression is hard to change. But it’s not impossible! Anything can sway someone’s initial opinion, but not just your iPod playlist, your favorite movie, the clothes you wear, the house you keep, the team you cheer for, or the job you work; the quirky little things matter too.
Consider an order at Subway, or Chipotle, or even a pizza, and the volumes that speaks to others about who you are. Ham and provolone on white with mustard, lettuce tomato is simple and plain. Spicy Italian is care-free. Specialty sammies are for the adventurous. And how about the vegetarian Chipotle burrito with no beans or sour cream? Or the vast differences in people who get plain cheese pizzas versus supreme?
I’ve heard bartenders and waitresses say they can predict what certain people will order. Every stereotypical person orders a stereotypical drink. Cheap people drink Mt. Dew and Long Island Iced Teas. Classy and mature people order martinis (hence Bond’s shaken-not-stirred). A beer for the blue-collared and wine for the house-wife.
Every order says something. Every action delivers a reaction. Every moment can have a lasting impression.
This holiday season, pay attention as friends and family are opening their gifts, not just at the wrap-job, but the gifts inside and reactions whilst opening. And the lesson learned? Don’t jump to assumptions because that just make an… well you know. Wait to make “donkeys” until you take them out for pizza and a drink.
Lists Hidden in This Newsletter
Top 10 Other Things to Wrap a Gift With
Defeated Football Teams throughout History
Bare Essentials School Supply List
The Everyday World of Men and Women: Expansive Differences
Things Babies Do that Would be Embarassing for an Adult to do
Everyone's a Little OCD: What are you obsessive compulsive about?
How to Be a Memorable First Date
Playlist: Christmas Music for Sugar-Plum Fairies and Gingerbread Men
The 10 Worst Holiday Gift Ideas
List of the 5-Dollar Footlongs at Subway
Top 10 Movie and TV Bartenders
Top 10 Manliest Girly Alcoholic Drinks
Actors that Have played James Bond
10+ Life Lessons That Took You Too Long to Learn
ListAfterList Updates and Reminders
Make your own “Christmas Gift” list at LAL today!
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Season’s Greetings Listers!
And Happy Holidays. Unless of course, you haven’t finished your Christmas shopping yet? Or if you are in any way related to Britney Spears? Did you hear her 16-year-old little sister is pregnant now? And her mom’s “parenting” book has been delayed indefinitely. Maybe now grandma will have time to add a new chapter on teen pregnancy and their bald, party-animal aunts? Then again, maybe you have another reason to not be merry? Or maybe you’re just one of those real-life Scrooges? Well don’t be a Grinch! So you don’t like the mall’s hour-long checkout lines. And your rear-wheel-drive, two-door car sucks on the unsalted, unplowed roads. And maybe your honey-do list gets a little longer this time of year. Whatever your reason to be bah-humbugger, there are plenty of reasons to be a Cindy Lou Who instead; besides the usual family, friends and health. Hate the commercialized Christmas? Make it a religious holiday. Remember that December 25th is supposed to be a celebration of the birth of Jesus. Hate the holy, spiritual side? Celebrate the social side. The holidays are a time of gathering. Besides seeing old friends and long-lost family members, it’s a chance to meet new people. Come out of your shell and shake hands with strangers at your office party, or look for some cutie standing alone under the mistletoe at the bar. Hate the social obligations? Curl up on the couch with a warm blanket and cup of eggnog next to a crackling fire and sparkling Christmas tree. Or go play fetch with your dog in the snow. Or take a stroll through the local holiday decorations. ‘Tis the season! Or just get out of town you Grinch. If you just don’t want to celebrate Christmas, take the expected time off of work or school to go on a vacation. In any case, if you’re a holiday Scrooge today, try and remember how special it was as a child. And if you’re childhood holiday memoirs were glum, you can always make new memories Mañana.
Greetings Listers!
It’s almost here! A day of feasting followed by fatigue. A day of indulgence then reduction. No, not Thanksgiving you glutton - Black Friday! On Black Friday, Americans everywhere indulge themselves in spending and feast on super-reduced sales at stores that open so early in the morning they shouldn’t be early-bird specials, but night-owl specials. Now why would you think I was talking about Thanksgiving? Thanksgiving is supposed to be a day of gratitude and grace (no matter if you believe it a secular or religious holiday). But by no surprise, America has turned it into a day of full of turkey and football. Now I’m not trying to bash Thanksgiving, because, just being Americans we have so much to be thankful for (i.e. every soldier fighting the war on terror). But the real excitement follows. Thanksgiving is just the start. Thanksgiving is Black Friday Eve. And thank goodness for “Turkey Day” because if it wasn’t for all that tryptophan consumption and Thanksgiving Day napping, you’d never be able to wake up at 4 a.m. to stand in frigid lines outside Sears. Is nothing more American than these two days? So tomorrow morning, give your thanks and get ready for the big day. Stuff the turkey, whip the mashed potatoes, turn on the parade (or football pre-game show), pull the pumpkin pie out of the freezer, and check your local ads. Our economy will certainly be thankful.
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Lists Hidden in this Newsletter |
Black Friday Christmas Gift Shopping Lists |
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The links above are attached to these lists. |
Can’t think of any good Christmas gift ideas for someone? Try looking through these lists. |
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Find more lists at ListAfterList.com |
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