Jen FitzGerald

Once you buy the presents, then you have to wrap them. It can be a tedious chore, but over the years, I've chosen to think of it as a way to sit and relax for a few hours in an otherwise hectic time of year.

But before the wrapping comes the choosing of the paper. Each year, I go to Target and peruse the wrapping paper aisle. There's a plethora to choose from to be sure. Cartoon characters and Christmas prints, patterns, and symbols. There's also fancy-schmancy paper with glitter. Target usually has mix and match sets. Once I find one that tickles my fancy, I choose several prints and find the bows and ribbon that match. Sometimes I choose a separate roll of paper for all the other presents--the ones that aren't for the kids and DH and I. That way, they're easily identifiable in the pile.

Our paper this year:


I wasn't especially bowled over by the selection this year. But it is just paper and will end up torn and crumpled on the floor, so I wasn't overly worried about it.



Once the time comes, I set up my station, brew some tea and choose a movie. I usually choose one I've seen many many times. Since I do have to pay attention to what I'm wrapping, I can't pay full attention to the movie, but because I've seen it so many times before, I know where I am in the film by dialogue alone. And when it comes to my favorite, must-watch parts, I can pause from wrapping and do so.

Last night, I really wanted to watch Star Trek, but couldn't find it. I chose my second favorite film, Penelope.

Two of my favorite parts are here...

After the curse is broken (and she's no longer the pig-faced girl) Penelope goes out into the world. She becomes a teacher and, in this scene, it's Halloween. Many of the kids are dressing as Penelope as their costume and of course Penelope spent her whole life looking that way so she's whole-heartedly tired of the whole thing. Anyway, the little girl is lamenting that, "I wanted to be Penelope. Instead, I'm stupid static cling." (See the socks stuck to her and the crazy hair?) To which Penelope replies, "I find it rather refreshing."


And then...


Close to the end, also after the curse is broken, and she goes in search of the one guy who didn't freak out when he saw her pig face. There's more to it, of course, but the kiss is lovely.

Oh--and the YouTube version:


It's quite yummy. And I'll say it again, if you haven't seen this you should. It's just a really cute live action fairy tale.

So...do you enjoy wrapping or is it just a chore?