My wonderful friend Karen, who lives far away, has a delightful Christmas tradition of sending off boxes packed full of little individually wrapped gifts that she collects throughout the year in thrift shops and dollar stores.

This year's package included:

- an inflatable pink flamingo
- a Reindeer Blinking nose
- a very entertaining book with the title "Looking for Mr. Right"
- a hanging lamp that clearly belongs in a bordello (and, apparently, my house)
- gingerbread scented shower gel
- various tasty treats from Trader Joes
- other assorted little toys

And, the best of all, this wallet: