"You just happened to stumble upon Nicholas Sparks while shopping?!"

I've been receiving emails asking for me to share more of my everyday ME in here, so dear reader, I hear you, how about this?

I won't say this is my absolute favorite Christmas gift because that's not fair to all of my other lovely Christmas gifts and the people that gave me those lovely gifts. But I am here to tell you, this one made me scream. As in yell loudly while jumping up and down. A new vehicle in the driveway with a big red bow? No.
Plane tickets to Europe?
Sadly, no.

So, in September of 2010, I was talking to my sister on the phone. This would be the middle sister, previously mentioned a few times here and there throughout my postings. She's excitedly telling me that she has her Christmas shopping DONE for myself, my baby sister, and my Mom. "I don't like you" I said. I was kidding, but rather jealous that she was done and I hadn't even started thinking about it. I found it curious, as she usually never starts that early, nor would there be something she was dying over, that would be the same item for all 3 of us. Very curious indeed. But I'm not one to spoil Christmas by asking a ton of questions in the hopes of figuring out what in the world she purchased. I'm a very patient person. (Unless I need coffee)

Christmas morning dawns.....not at the crack of dawn mind you, we slept in. As I'm mixing my Mom's mimosa recipe (yes I will share) my cell phone rings, thus beginning the myriad of calls I knew I would have throughout the day. I love Christmas.

It's Melissa. "Don't open your gift before Mom opens hers. You HAVE to open them at the same time. Otherwise she will know what she's getting and you just have to do it this way, mmmkay?"
"Yes, I hear you" Now I'm REALLY excited!

So we sit down to begin the gift ceremony, clutching our pretty pink/orange mimosas. I'm not going to lie to you, there was no decorum on my part, I ripped that box open like the winning lottery ticket was inside. I saw the gift before my Mom did, so I patiently waited until she got her box open. She opened it v e r y s l o w l y......patience people. Patience.

When I saw that she could see it, we both yelled yay! at the same time and pulled the gift out of the box.
If you know me at all, you already know that Nicholas Sparks is one of my favorite authors. His latest book, Safe Haven, was what was inside the box and I was thrilled. As I'm pulling it out of the tissue paper, I notice that it has a yellow sticky note on the front. I glanced over at Moms to see if hers had one too, it did.
It read:
"Make sure you look inside on the first page!"

My thoughts immediately went to "I bet she had it signed!" , then, "how did she do that!?" So I slowly open the book, and I can already see his signature on the inside.

But here is where the REAL fun begins. I screamed, when these two things slid out of the book onto my lap:

After composing myself, I grabbed my cell phone and called her immediately. As she answered I was already yelling, "OMG WHERE DID THIS HAPPEN?!!!!"

She explained that she went shopping one day in Vero Beach, and there he was doing a book-signing in one of the bookstores. I was like, "you just happened to stumble upon Nicholas Sparks while shopping?!" This sort of thing never happens to me. The unfortunate part is that she forgot to get herself a signed copy.

So Nicholas, if you're listening, I plan on meeting you one day, so I can return the favor to Melissa. I promise I won't faint. Or paw at you. Or drool. Or stammer.

Okay I might stammer, but I promise it won't last long.

See you soon friends,
Tiffany


And now for the Mimosa Recipe:

2 cups of Cranberry Juice
2 cups of Orange Juice
Mix in a pitcher, place in fridge if not cold (it needs to be cold)
The Martini & Rossi (or whatever kind you choose) Asti Spumonte  needs to be chilled as well.

In a glass, pour the juice mixture, filling half of the glass, then top the other half with Asti Spumonte.
It's such a pretty drink, and quite refreshing I must say. Holiday Breakfasts at Tiffanys always include this sparkling glass of awesome.