Hi there. First things first, the two lucky winners of the Christmas Magic Contest. There is one winner from each round. Congratulations goes to..........

1ST PLACE.  From round 1, congratulations goes to this wonderful picture submitted by Susan......

Honorable mention goes to this amazing picture which was just a few votes behind........

FIRST PLACE. From round 2 congratulations goes to Lauren who submitted this wonderful picture....

And an honorable mention goes to this special shot....

Please contact me at [email protected] to claim your prize. Thanks to all who sent in their pictures and to all the readers who participated in the voting. I will announce a new contest in the next few days...and it's going to be a fun one!
 As most of you know I was away on vacation (much needed) in gorgeous sunny California. We,  as in my family,  like to start things and end things with a bang. We got there only for my husband to arrive sick, first cold, then bad headcold then he felt like the flu was brewing, so we were at the doctors New Years Eve....thankfully antibiotics acted quickly and by day 4 he was doing much better. To his credit, he was a trooper except that our New Years eve plans did not materialize. We first were in gorgeous, tony Laguna Beach. To say its heavenly is an understatement which is why we go back. And back again. I am not even going to get into my MAJOR airline drama with Jetblue and the nightmarish experience getting bac...